Incline High School

With Nevada facing a projected $3.5 billion deficit, the 2011 Legislature may have no choice but to cut the state’s popular Millennium Scholarship program, Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said Thursday on a statewide political program.

Leslie, who is running for a state Senate seat after the Assembly because of term limits, said the $3.5 billion deficit represents half of the state’s general fund and that more cuts to government services during the 2011 Legislature are “inevitable.”

With dwindling resources, Nevada must first fund programs and services that are mandated by the state constitution, Leslie said on the Nevada Newsmakers television program.

“What we are going to have to do is go back and look at the services that we are mandated constitutionally to provide,” Leslie said. “And then there are services that we all love -- one example would be the Millennium Scholarship, everyone loves that program - but we are not constitutionally mandated to provide it. So a program like that, even though it is extremely popular, may definitely be on the chopping block.”

The Millennium Scholarship program, set up by former Gov. Kenny Guinn, has been funded from the state portion of the Tobacco Settlement and in some years, with an infusion from the state’s unclaimed property fund. Last month, however, the Interim Finance Committee of the Legislature transferred $4.2 million into the scholarship program to keep it solvent through the 2011 fiscal year.

“If you are looking at slashing 50 percent of the state budget, there are things we have to provide,” Leslie said on Newsmakers. “We have to provide prisons. We have to provide at least a minimum funding for k-12 education and we are going to have to separate things we can fund and we have to fund from the things we would all love to fund but we just don’t have the revenue to do it.”

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Incline High School teacher Milt Hyams, who teaches American government and We The People, is one of three teachers nationaly to win the 2010 American Civic Education Teacher Award.

The award recognizes his work preparing students to become informed and engaged citizens.

The awards go to elementary and secondary teachers of civics, government and related subjects who show exceptional expertise, dynamism and creativity in motivating students to learn about the Constitution, Congress and public policy, the Washoe County School District said in a statement. ACETA is sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, the Center on Congress at Indiana University and the National Education Association.

“I am humbled by the award," Hyams said in a statement. "There are three million or so teachers in the country who everyday are committed to the intellectual and emotional development of America's students, and I am a small part of the training of our future. I am also reminded that civic education is as valuable to the health of our society as is a grounding in math, science, foreign languages and language arts. No matter their academic or career interests, students need a grounding in the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and a training in the skills required to be effective at self-governing. It is fundamental to developing well-rounded citizens.”

The ACETA winners receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in July to participate in an educational program that includes observing floor sessions and committee hearings in Congress, meeting members of Congress and other key officials, and visiting sites such as the National Archives and the U.S. Supreme Court. Hyams will leave June 26 and return July 2.

In his self-portrait essay, Hyams wrote, “My teaching of twelfth grade civics is a journey for students to understand the significance of their role in the fabric of American citizenship and the complex relationship between rights and responsibilities. I view my classroom as a learning community where ideas are shared, respected, and built upon; where knowledge, experience and learning are valued. As a civic educator, I recognize that it is my duty to promote civility of discourse, open-mindedness, the disposition to compromise, and compassion. My goal is that students learn their role as active, thoughtful, informed, empowered citizens; participants in the dialogue of who we are as a people.”

Compelling reasons exist for top high school graduates to stay home for higher education -- relatively accessible cost, competitive programs and proximity to home and family.

But for some accomplished graduates, a wider variety of academic choices, the attraction of national and school-based scholarships and the quest for adventure and independence lure them to seek opportunities outside the state.

Of the 3,292 graduates from Washoe County schools in 2009, about 2,200 went to college. Of those, 1,705 went to the University of Nevada, Reno or Truckee Meadows Community College.

And although those who stay home outnumber those who leave by 3-to-1, according to Washoe County school data, competition for the area's top graduates -- valedictorians, National Merit and Presidential scholars and International Baccalaureate -- is vigorous. A sampling of top local grads reveal they have choices: In nearly equal numbers some hit the road for higher learning, while others believe there's no place like home.

Leaving home

Home-schooled Ethan Foster of Reno, who chaired the Nevada Youth Legislature, plans to start his college education at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va., near Washington D.C., with a focus in government studies. The school is considered a pipeline to political internships.

Foster, who expressed an interest in politics, received a scholarship from Patrick Henry that paid for about half the cost of his education and other scholarships that will help fill the gap. Foster considered UNR an option.

"It was something I definitely looked at because the price is right and has some very good tracks, but most of the majors are business, are technically inclined, and it's hard to focus on a government major at UNR," he said.

Foster also expressed concern over the health of the Millennium Scholarship, which has been a victim of the state's revenue shortfall.

"Through the Nevada Youth Legislature, that is something that we talked a lot about -- how it's functioning and where it's headed," Foster said.

The Nevada Board of Regents voted June 3 to cut departments and degree programs to save $6 million and help offset a loss of state funding in the 2010-11 fiscal year.

And the Millennium Scholarship fund could be $4.2 million short in the year that starts July 1 if the Nevada Legislature does not find a way to add money, according to the state treasurer's staff. That could mean the 8,000 eligible high school seniors would not have money next year beyond the first semester.

Top grads have choice

Competition for top high school graduates remains vigorous. Provost Marc Johnson said UNR has done a better job of marketing its academic product in recent years, and last spring qualified to become a National Merit Scholarship sponsoring university.

"Students who are National Merit finalists can go just about anywhere in the United States they want," he said. "The competition can be very keen. We need to not only be competitive financially, but in the academic reputation of our programs.

"The fact that we had four National Merit scholars four years ago and next year, we're going to have 35 suggests that we're doing something to turn around the image, that the University of Nevada, Reno is a fine school where you can take a fine intellect and get it ready for life and career," he said. "National Merit scholars don't pick a school because of athletic facilities or dorms."

The state had 202 National Merit Scholarship finalists in 2010.

Some of the top students contacted were concerned about the economy's impact on Nevada's job market and said they might choose to start their careers elsewhere.

Nevadaworks CEO Tom Fitzgerald, whose firm tailors job training and skill upgrades for local employers, said changing perceptions of the state's manpower is imperative.

"We've had an image primarily outside the state and from the east, that there's not a lot of high education or skill sets," Fitzgerald said. "But as job development has succeeded up here in the north, we have brought in a higher level and better-educated individual."

Some high schoolers departing for college outside the state eventually may return because they are homesick for Nevada's unique lifestyle, he said.

"I don't think we can prevent them from leaving, that would be a mistake," Fitzgerald said. "The message to them is 'Learn what you can, stay in touch, live a few years and when you're ready to come back, we'll be here to help.'"

Up, up and away

"One of my main considerations was being near a large urban center, so I applied to a few schools around the San Francisco area -- Stanford -- a few schools around L.A., like USC and Cal Tech, a few schools like Northwestern and the University of Chicago and few schools along the East Coast," said Incline High's Sean McClelland, who earned a National Merit Scholarship sponsored by the University of Chicago.

He considered UNR for awhile," but I figured that if I went there, my mom would visit me," he said.

"I couldn't really imagine that," McClelland said.

But he also sought intellectual challenge.

"I was definitely looking at the rigor of programs," said McClelland, who plans to study economics. "Unfortunately, I wouldn't get much need-based money, but I was looking for intellectual community, and the University of Chicago was excellent in my mind."

If attending UNR, McClelland would have enrolled on an engineering track, he said.

And leaving Nevada for college might be a complete departure.

"I think I'm definitely going to be living elsewhere," he said. "I think I was very fortunate to be brought up in Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area, but I think I need to get to the big city and be adventurous."

The sprawling urban expanse of Los Angeles attracted Incline High School graduate Michael Ceragioli, a National Merit scholar, and to attend Pomona College just east of Los Angeles.

"A lot of my family lives in the L.A. area, and that was a motivating factor to go there," said Ceragioli, who plans to continue his career as a soccer player at the liberal arts college.

Pomona College is part of the Claremont college consortium and offers a larger and diversified community, he said.

Ceragioli said he never really considered staying at home for college.  "The drawback with UNR is a lot of kids that end up going to school there get stuck with the same friends, and that didn't really appeal to me," he said.

Reed High School valedictorian Tony Lin plans to attend UCLA in the fall to begin his pre-med schooling.

"When I visited, I really liked the weather, the campus," Lin said. "And I wanted to try living on my own."

Because he will be attending school out of state, his parents are prepared to pay for his freshman year of school. He hopes his performance will earn him scholarships and other financial aid.

If he had decided to pursue an engineering career, Lin said, he might have selected UNR.

Surveying the economy in his hometown will be a consideration when deciding to return, Lin said.

National Merit scholar Luke Arnone chose Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania because of its size, the strong undergraduate engineering program, the variety of other classes and proximity to the East Coast.

He also applied to the University of California, Berkeley, Boston University and UNR.

Ties that bind

Many of the female graduates contacted said they would stay closer to home because of family considerations and the more attractive cost of enrolling locally.

Sheena Combe will be among the first graduating class at the Washoe Online Learning for the Future High School, previously under the wing of Washoe High. Her lifelong battle with juvenile diabetes made the flexibility of WOLF the best option and made her want to stay closer to home.

An aspiring veterinarian, Combe said she'll start at Truckee Meadows Community College before transferring to UNR.

"I really want to stay in Nevada to be near my family," she said. "And I really like the people who are helping me take care of my diabetes."

Family also was a consideration in McQueen graduate Kaci Hartwick's decision to attend UNR, but money was an overriding concern.

"I'm in charge of paying for college," said Hartwick, who will have the Millennium Scholarship and several others. "I have maybe 15 scholarships."

"Aside from the money part, I wanted to stay close to Reno because I have a younger brother and sister, and I don't want to miss them growing up," Hartwick said.

Litzia Martinez chose UNR because she wants to study biochemistry and molecular biology en route to becoming a surgeon.  "And I wanted to stay close to my family," Martinez said.

Finances also were a factor, said Martinez, who has received her basic emergency medical training certification, but expressed concern about the Millennium Scholarship.

Bessie Lui, seventh in the Damonte Ranch High School graduating class, plans to attend UNR to earn an accelerated pre-med degree, known as BS-MD. After medical school, she is not certain if she will return to the Reno area.

"But I would like to because the Reno community has been very good to me, and many of the local surgeons have helped," said Lui, who immigrated from China with her family. "And my parents are glad that I will be close."

» Kelsey J. Ripplinger, Probable career field: Music Composition; from Boulder City H. S., Boulder City

» Justin L. Donat, Probable career field: Chemical Engineering; from Douglas H. S., Minden

» Seth C. Thompson, Probable career field: Mathematics; from Coronado H. S., Henderson

» Michael A. Ceragioli, Probable career field: Law; from Incline H. S., Incline Village

» Sara Kantor, Probable career field: Chemistry; from the Adelson School, Las Vegas

» Jordan J. Lamothe, Probable career field: Economics; from Meadows School, Las Vegas

» Paul Sohn, Probable career field: Surgical Medicine; from Rancho H. S., Las Vegas

» Kameron J. Van Woerkom, Probable career field: Business Administration; from Advanced Technologies Academy, Las Vegas

» Luke D. Arnone, Probable career field: Engineering; from Galena H. S., Reno

» Benjamin R. Chen, Probable career field: Mechanical Engineering; from Robert Mc Queen H. S., Reno

» Simin Jiang, Probable career field: Biochemistry; from Reno H. S., Reno

» Benjamin L. Lokshin, Probable career field: Linguistics; from the Davidson Academy Of Nevada, Reno

» Michael S. Williamson, Probable career field: Aerospace Engineering; from Bishop Manogue Catholic H. S., Reno

College Sponsored National Merit Winners

» Sean A. McClelland, Probable career field: Economics; from Incline H. S., Incline Village; National Merit University Of Chicago Scholarship

» Emily R. Buer, Probable career field: Music Performance; from Meadows School, Las Vegas; National Merit Butler University Scholarship

» Timothy D. Leonard, Probable career field: Mechanical Engineering; from Advanced Technologies Academy, Las Vegas; National Merit Arizona State University Scholarship

» Nicole C. Levy, Probable career field: Law/Politics; from Palo Verde H. S., Las Vegas; National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship

» Cara E. Palmer, Probable career field: History; from Bishop Gorman H. S., Las Vegas; National Merit University Of Southern California Scholarship

» Kylee E. Slee, Probable career field: Vocal Performance (Opera); from Palo Verde H. S., Las Vegas; National Merit Pepperdine University Scholarship

» Brian M. Randall, Probable career field: International Business; from Douglas H. S., Minden; National Merit University of Oklahoma Scholarship

» William J. Hartman, Probable career field: Animation; from Bishop Manogue Catholic H. S., Reno; National Merit University Of Southern California Scholarship

» Hanne L. Jensen, Probable career field: Undecided; from Reno H. S., Reno; National Merit Whitman College Scholarship

Whittell baseball player Alex Potnick was in the midst of a slump during the Northern 2A Regional when coach Starbuck Teevan gave his shortstop some simple advice -- take it one pitch at a time.

"I told him he was swinging at bad pitches," Teevan said. "I told him to settle down, calm down and swing at your pitch. Sure enough, he came up in a crucial situation and ended up hitting a two-run home run to put us on top and we ended up winning that game.

"It was a turning point for him."

Potnick's momentum transferred nicely into this season. The junior is the RGJ's All-North 2A Player of the Year, in addition to the coaches' pick for Northern 2A MVP.

Potnick delivered a triple crown performance this season, leading the North in batting average (.618), home runs (10) and RBIs (55) to help the Warriors capture the 2A state title over Battle Mountain.

"If you want to call it the triple crown for the North in the 2A, well then he got that," Teevan said. "It's a great accomplishment for him. He had an incredible year for just being a junior. He earned every bit of it."

The Warriors finished second at state in 2009 and used that as motivation this season.

It worked. Whittell won its first 13 games, scoring double digits in nine of those games. The team won 10 of its last 11 games. Potnick hit three home runs in that stretch.

"Our coaches had a goal for us throughout the season and that was to win state," Potnick said. "We worked really hard in practice and in games. Our coaches were getting on us for every little thing and it definitely paid off."

The team finished 33-4, and two of those losses came to the 3A's Truckee and Lowry.

In his senior season, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Potnick will focus on bringing the school another state title, which won't be easy. The team lost six seniors.

But it's just another challenge for Potnick, who seems to accept them with aplomb.

RGJ's ALL-NORTH 2A BASEBALL team

P: Jordan Morgan, Whittell; Patrick Howe, Incline; Dylan Bloyed, Pershing County
C: Ryan Salazar, Battle Mountain
1B: Alex Vogt, Whittell
2B: Michael Kinchloe, Pershing County
3B: Matt Miller, Battle Mountain
SS: Alex Potnick, Whittell*
OF: Nicholas Werner, Whittell; Trevor Gurley, Pershing County; Tyler Cramer, Incline
DH: Louis Douglas, Battle Mountain
* -- Player of the Year

Newsweek Magazine has just published its list of "America's Best High Schools" and twelve Washoe County School District high schools made the cut. In fact, only three other Nevada schools, all from Clark County, are on the list at all.

Topping the list at #174 is Wooster High School, the only school in the state to crack the top 200. Other WCSD schools on the list and their rankings are Galena at 638, McQueen at 702, Reno at 710, Incline at 767, Sparks at 842, Reed at 1236, Damonte Ranch at 1375, Hug at 1444, Spanish Springs at 1479, Coral Academy of Science Charter at 1550 and North Valleys at 1584.

According to the magazine's website, just over 1,600 schools-only 6% of the 27,000 public high schools in the nation-earned the distinction. The magazine says the list represents how hard the school staffs work to challenge students to take their most demanding courses, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Each school's ranking is based on the number of AP or IB exams given each school year divided by the number of graduating seniors. Called the "Challenge Index," any ratio above 1.0 qualified the school for the listing.

Superintendent of Schools Heath Morrison says the credit for such an outstanding accomplishment goes to the schools themselves. "I want to congratulate the principals, counselors and teachers at these schools for the fantastic work they have done. They know the importance of opening these classes to more and more students and their work is paying off,'" he said. But, Morrison says, there is room for improvement. "Our new strategic plan will have specific performance targets for the percentage of students taking either AP or IB classes. We are serious about wanting our graduates to be well-prepared for college and the workplace and challenging students with these demanding classes is one of the best predictors of how well they will perform after high school," Morrison said.

District officials also noted that there are good reasons why other WCSD high schools are not on the list. TMCC High School does not offer AP or IB classes because its students are actually enrolled in college classes already. Gerlach High School, the district's smallest, would have qualified if one more student had taken an AP class.

The full story from Newsweek is available at http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/americas-best-high-schools.html

Scholarship Night - Wednesday, June 16, 5:30pm, in the large gym.

Graduation - Thursday, June 17, 4:00pm, in the large gym.

 Valedictorian: Shanna Murray

Salutatorian: Sean McClelland 

2010 Graduates:

Aleece Allred, Edgar Anguiano- Murillo, Robert Baker, Kyle Brockway,

Robert Buergin, Conor Bujeaux, Erin Canino, Sean Castillo, Michael Ceragioli, Jose Daniel Chavez, Luis Chavez, Kelli Cherry, Logan Cohen, Samantha Conragan, Blake Conway,

Micha Corneil, Braulio Correa, Tyler Cramer, Jordan Cronin, Rhett Davis, Julia Dewes,

Joshua Dykstra, Erik Espinosa, Danielle Finnick, Kevin Flanders, Cory Fowlkes, John Giles,

Sharon Gollery, Savannah Gossler, Erik Gough, Natalie Harris, Ana Herrera, Jason Hillman, Lawrence Jolley, Christian Joudon, Forrest Juarez, Ryan Lee, Connor Long, Juan Luna,

Samantha Maldonado, James Mancuso, Ervin Martinez, Annamarie Marziliano, Brittany Masin, Sean McClelland, Tyler McKinney, Jeffrey Mitchell, Evelyn Monroy, Shana Moore, Lucero Murillo, Shanna Murray, Dana Myrmel, Dana Nelson, Braden Nielsen, Alfredo Parra, Enrique Parra, Taylor Parsons, Gwendolyn Paul, Madeline Paul, Eric Payne, Alfredo Perez Estrada,

Sydney Perkins, Mackenzie Peterson, Jordan Petrilla, Taner Phillips, Alejandro Reyes-Manrriquez, Edward Rodriguez, Harlan Rodriguez, Joao Rodriguez,

James Sagan, Pedro Salazar, Izamar Sanchez, Stephania Sanchez, Sarah Scott, Leoncio Serrano, Sasha Severance, Maria Soto, Megan Steinmeyer, Michelino Sunseri, Wendy Tapia,

David Taranowski, Luis Tatengo, Stephen Thorne, Michaela Tonking, Sterling Vinson,

Christopher Wallace Carrete, Erika Wegener, Kenneth Welch, Lauren Wilson, Samuel Witt, Katelyn Wright and Max Wynne.

Class of 2010

Well here it is
the day we all wished would come
after this day we won't be students anymore
we will now be known as alum.

So thanks to everyone who got us this far
to parents, teachers and friends.
principals, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
this list never ends.

I still remember my first day here.
Man, four years flew by like a jet.
The memories flash by my eyes.
and I can say I don't have a single regret.

So now I stand on this stage staring out into the faces.
faces of friends, classmates, and people I've never seen til this day.
We've been through a lot.
We're all connected in a way.

So with that said, Let's turn this page in our life
Today we start our lives as women and men
So let's move our tassles and throw our hats into the sky
because we are the class of twenty ten.

Stacey Cooper of Mansfield, Ohio, will be the new principal at Incline High School, replacing John Clark, who is retiring after 32 years with the Washoe County School District.

The appointment for Cooper, who will begin her tenure July 1, was announced during a Friday staff meeting held by Rick Borba, chief officer of school performance.

A bilingual educator with an extensive background in administration and teaching, Cooper most recently served as the executive director of secondary education and principal of Malabar Middle School for the Mansfield City School District. She has also served as the part-time interim superintendent for the district.

Last month, she resigned as superintendent of Adams County/Ohio Valley Schools, a week after taking the job, according to a Mansfield News Journal report.

Cooper cited personal reasons, such as the distance she would have to drive and time spent away from her family of six.

Cooper also told the newspaper that she also had concerns about the job after shadowing Adams County Superintendent Pat Kimble, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

She shared those reasons with Washoe County officials during the interview process, said district Spokesman Steve Mulvenon.

"She had verbally committed to the job, and had committed to the job shadow for a week," Mulvenon said. "She said her real passion was as a building principal, and she realized it was a mistake and backed out of it."

Copper's credentials were vetted with three superintendents with whom she worked in Ohio and two other principals, Mulvenon said.

"I've talked to my counterpart back in her old district, and everybody says the same thing; that we got a quality candidate, an exceptional education leader who believes in a reform agenda," he said.

"We feel fortunate to have her."

She comes to Incline High School as the school district is battling some local opposition to launch an International Baccalaureate program at the school and also in the elementary and middle school.

Cooper graduated cum laude from the University of Findlay, with her bachelor of arts in Spanish and bilingual education.

She also has received her masters of education in administrative education, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Findlay.

"She had one of the most impressive interviews that I participated in during our search process for the Incline position." Borba said.

"One of the most important attributes that became clear about Cooper was her passion and commitment for all students, and school reform."

Four candidates were interviewed for the position, two were internal and the others were external.

In addition to working for the Mansfield City School District, Cooper's professional career includes experience as a high school principal for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and a teacher-leader for the Lima City School District in Lima, Ohio.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevada collectively awarded $37,000 in scholarships to the following area high school seniors:

Alyssa Addington, Roberto Lopez-Racheco and Abigal Macias of Sparks High; Elizabeth Benson, Mary Carreon, Luis Garcia-Perez, Dipto Moni, Rebecca Schomberg, Gregory Walker and Kailun Zhang of Wooster; Carlos Garcia and Anh Vuong of Spanish Springs; Josue Gaytan-Garcia, Cassandra Hughes, Tania Hurtado, Maya Merlis, Angela Mora, Mario Rosiles of Hug; Matthew Plotkin of Galena; Katie Hippert and Cara Sherrill of TMCC High; Tony Lin of Reed; Ashtyn Zamora of Damonte Ranch; Shamima Sultana of the Davidson Academy of Nevada; Rachel Davis, Terry Hancock and Benjamin Syang of Douglas; Ekaterina Diaz and Salvador Rocha of Fernley High; Giovan Cholico of Lowry; David Bart of Spring Creek; Gabriela Garcia-Dominguez of Pershing County; Shelbi Jones and Lindsey Myers of Elko High; Crystal Powell of Churchill County; Krystal Puckett of White Pine and Tyler Trout of Yerington.

Students were selected based on their academic record, financial need and community involvement.

Byrd Scholars:

The following area high school seniors were recently recognized as Robert C. Byrd honors scholars, according to the Nevada Department of Education: Michael Williamson, Bishop Manogue; Merrill Asp and Yvonne Hollett, Carson High; Benjamin Lokshin, Hannah Shoenhard and Jessica Kim of the Davidson Academy of Nevada; Benjamin Syang, Julia Miller, Justin Donat, Walker Higgins and Jamie Lundergreen of Douglas High; Luke Arnone, Galena; Sean McClelland, Michael Ceragioli, Max Wynne and Shanna Murray of Incline High; Simin Jiang, Melissa Sieffert, Dana Green and Morgan Zandonella of Reno High; and Benjamin Chen and Klavdia Zemlianova of McQueen.

Each receives $1,500 per year toward their college education. Students were selected based on their academic record and college entrance exam scores.

Students at Incline Village High School will be returning to the upcoming 2010-11 school year with a new Principal. Stacey Cooper from Mansfield, Ohio was announced as the new Principal at Incline High School during a Friday staff meeting held by Rick Borba, Chief Officer of School Performance. Cooper replaces John Clark, who is retiring at the end of the school year after serving more than 32 years with WCSD.

Cooper is a bi-lingual educator with an extensive background in both the administrative and teaching levels. She currently is the Executive Director of Secondary Education, and Principal of Malabar Middle School for the Mansfield City School District. She has also served as the part-time Interim Superintendent within the district.

Cooper graduated Cum Laude from the University of Findlay, with her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Bilingual Education. She also has received her Masters of Education in Administrative Education, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Findlay.

Borba says Cooper came highly recommended from her previous Superintendents and peers in the Midwest. "She had one of the most impressive interviews that I participated in during our search process for the Incline position." Borba continued, "One of the most important attributes that became clear about Cooper was her passion and commitment for all students, and school reform."

A total of four candidates were interviewed for the position, two were internal and the others were external. Borba says Cooper is looking forward to getting to know the Incline Village community. "When I notified her that she got the position the first thing she said was that she needed to get out and meet people in the community, as well as parents and students as soon as possible."

In addition to working for the Mansfield City School District, Cooper's professional career includes experience as a high school principal for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and a Teacher-Leader for the Lima City School District in Lima, Ohio. Cooper's official start day with WCSD is July 1, 2010.

About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 63,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready. For more information visit: www.washoecountyschools.org. Follow us on Twitter at WCSDTweet

IHS salutatorian Sean McClelland loves to study, think, and discuss the world.

Incline High senior Sean McClelland will attend the University of Chicago in the fall. He is a National Merit Scholar, a Presidential Scholar semi-finalist and this year’s salutatorian.

When Sean McClelland leaves Incline Village this fall, he knows what he’ll miss — the nice weather. But in the Windy City, he’s excited to find a different, more cosmopolitan culture.

“I’m definitely excited to get out of the Tahoe bubble and go to the big city,” he said.

The Incline High School senior — who is just 16 — will leave behind a legacy of success, though, as he heads to the University of Chicago this August. McClelland is ranked second in his class, is a member of the state champion “We The People” team and is currently a semifinalist for the U.S. Presidential Scholarship. And he credits the high school as a key to his success.

“It’s obviously a very small school, but I think it fosters a community spirit and really gives you a good connection with teachers and other students,” McClelland said.

He said the support of community members have bolstered his efforts, too. Many volunteers and others have helped with his academic pursuits and “We The People,” he said.

“It’s nice to see Judge (Alan) Tiras and other prominent community members helping us out,” he said.

A summer at the University of California-Davis focused on math and engineering got McClelland more interested in math and science, but “We The People” and its teacher, Milt Hyams, drew McClelland into the realm of politics and policy.

“That’s really shifted my interests to the social sciences and humanities,” McClelland said.

At the University of Chicago, he said he hopes to study economics more in depth and experience a broader culture.

“Chicago’s a big city, so that’s exciting, but a bit dangerous,” he said.

Outside the classroom, McClelland said he recently started a blog and enjoys usual teenage activities — watching movies, listening to music and hanging out with his friends. But he never strays far from thinking about scholarly topics.

“Really, writing and just debating things with my friends are some of my favorite hobbies,” McClelland said.

That sort of thought, discussion and debate is an important part of “We The People.” Though all of his courses at IHS have been helpful and “quite good,” he said We The People has provided him with a team full of peers who are just as interested and passionate about the topic as he is.

“Being part of an intellectually based team was really a great experiment. I’m sure I’ll look back at my high school career and be proud of our team’s accomplishments,” McClelland said.

McClelland’s father, Wayne, said Sean has taken advantage of opportunities outside the classroom as well as in it.

“He’s intellectually curious and I think that’s probably his strength,” Wayne McClelland said. “He’s also been good at taking our urging to go beyond traditional learning.”

Though he said he might have taken more difficult courses earlier in his high school career, McClelland said he’s pleased with his experiences in high school. And while college will be different, he said he’s enjoyed living here.

“I think I’ve done a pretty good job taking advantage of the opportunities Incline has offered me,” he said. “It’s a nice place to grow up.”

His mother, Cindy, said she and her husband have been lucky to have a committed, hard-working student as a son, and they’re excited for his future.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “And we’re going to miss him.”

In Germany, before the Second World War, high school students who graduated with straight As went into teaching. Those unfortunates who graduated with a paltry B average went into medicine. Teachers were the most revered citizens in German society. What happened? Who knows …

All I know is, we need to aspire to that pre-war German mindset here in the USA. The most noble of all professions is teaching, teaching medicine, teaching law, teaching compassion, teaching tolerance, teaching right from wrong …

Milt Hyams. I have never met the man but he is my hero. Year after year he takes on classes of average high school civics students and motivates them to debate various tenants of American government, and in the process, fosters them to engage their own civic responsibilities.

Year after year, his kids perform admirably in the national, “We The People Competition,” resulting in his receiving this year's American Civic Education Teacher Award.

This is not a teacher, this is an educator. This is not an educator, this is a statesman for the young! He instills his students with a fervent desire to know their Constitution, then inspires them to inculcate that knowledge into responsible civic engagement. The guy is a gold-plated 21st century stud.

Now, how do we grow more Milt Hyams? I'll tell you how … we give the Milt Hyams of the world their just due. We pay them adequately for their good energy. We elevate them to the social status they deserve. We invite them to be grand marshals in our parades. But most of all, we support them in our schools, and honor them on our streets.

How many of us have been motivated by one good teacher to do better? Heck, I had a public speaking teacher in high school fail me with a big fat F, and an addendum, “You failed to prepare, you were careless in your delivery, and you had impeccable timing.” Encouragement like that enabled me to muster enough energy to sustain 20 years of broadcasting and twenty years of portraying one of America's most prolific authors and platform speakers — Mark Twain.

For most of us, all it takes is one good teacher, one good coach, one good mentor. For others it takes two, or three, so we need all we can get.

The important thing, the essential thing, is that we extend to good teachers, coaches and mentors the respect and deference they deserve.

Respect and high opinion of a community is reward enough for most educators -though they cannot live on that alone. We must also recognize their immeasurable value by remunerating them with contracts that will allow them to drink the tonic that refreshes their divine spirits … travel. If we fail to refresh them, well, they are going to sour and wither and burnout and take to tending bar or one of the other many more lucrative enterprises available to the resourceful Nevadan. Let us take care of our great teachers.

Hail to the Chief — Milt Hyams!

McAvoy Layne is an Incline Village resident who visits area schools as the ghost of Mark Twain. Learn more at ghostoftwain.com.

After Mother's Day, when I'd already shifted gears and started thinking about high school and college graduation events, I had a conversation with a 26-year-old woman who told me about a phone call to her mom. She'd sent a card and small gift to her mom for Mother's Day, and then last Sunday, when the holiday finally arrived, she called to check in. She wanted to know: Had the gift arrived? Was everything okay? Her mother, who sounded overjoyed but also as if she might sob, said that she'd just then been remembering the morning, almost 10 years ago, when she'd helped move her only daughter's suitcases and boxes into a college dormitory.

"You want everything for your daughter," this mom said into the phone, "and you'll do anything you can for her, but one day you drop her off at school, and then you just hope you'll hear from her again!" Surprised by her mom's emotion, the young woman said: "But Mom, I call you all the time!" And this, of course, was true, but her mom was speaking to something else--to the fact that being a parent involves a particularly complicated kind of "letting go." The effort, awareness and selflessness this requires is something we rarely talk about when celebrating graduations and preparing for what comes next in our children's lives.

Most of us, when we become parents, rediscover what it means to truly love another person. Our children are born and then not a day goes by when we're not making sacrifices for them in all sorts of necessary, unplanned and sometimes even unpleasant ways. Most often we're only as happy as our least happy child. We tend to want for our children the opportunities we didn't have, whether that means dance and music lessons, theater classes or participation on sports teams that practice several days a week. And when our children succeed at something--at anything, really, but especially the things at which they want to succeed--we're filled with pride, and perhaps the sense that our parenting is "good enough" and that our children are fulfilling their potential. By way of example, all three of my sons showed a talent for painting and drawing at a very young age. Their mother, a middle school art teacher, helped me frame their work and display it in my office. So even now, 20 years later, I'm filled with a strange happiness when I glance up at the wall behind my red patient couch and see "Happy Man," my middle son Adam's portrait of a grinning, blond-haired, triangle-nosed, olive-eyed child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Much of this probably sounds obvious. But what I'm trying to get at is the undeniable, colossal significance of the 18 years we spend with our children, from their first breaths and steps to their first days at school, first dates and all the other new discoveries, disappointments and successes that happen along the way. We send them out into the adult world, after their high school graduations, and then we wait quietly, hoping we've equipped them to make the myriad adult decisions that await them. We hope, despite all the things we didn't do over the years, and because of the things we did do, that our children somehow have what it takes to decide for themselves what matters, to choose amid all the temptations and pressures that bombard them from the moment they step outside without parental strings.

The choices before them will be vast and very often incomprehensible. As parents, we want reassurance that we've prepared our children for this. We want to be certain that while we've encouraged our sons and daughters to achieve at school and work, we've also instilled in them the deeper understanding that happiness comes not from perfect grades, job titles- or salary figures. Health and well-being--indeed, success--comes from our quality of relationships.

To those of you who have a high school senior this year: I know that "letting go" of your son or daughter after graduation will be a difficult, even heart-wrenching process. But try not to focus on the physical separation. Your parent-child relationship, from the beginning, has been one of separation. It is now at a transition point, but as in any other stage in your child's life, you can make an enormous difference.

Here are some ways to stay involved in your child's life as we move into summer and the months and years ahead:

• Establish regular times for phone calls and/or visits with your child.
• Be aware of how your own college or first work experiences affect your expectations for your child.
• Work toward creating a dynamic in which your child feels supported and heard. But try not to pry for information. Eighteen-year-olds, in particular, want to feel independent.
• Remind your child that the first year away from home--and freshman year, for those who go to college--is a very difficult transition. While some teens are at ease on day one, there is no set time for "normal adjustment." Leave the door open for conversations about the challenges and new responsibilities that come with moving away and/or attending a university.
• Discuss your expectations with regard to financial responsibility and school or work obligations.
• Encourage your child to develop healthy friendships and to have a support system outside of the family. It's a good idea to talk about what constitutes a "healthy" friendship, because teens, lacking in real world experience, may be less selective when making friends in new social settings.
• Prepare your child for new relationships, including sexual relationships. Talk about how to manage potential conflict with roommates as well as friends and boyfriends/girlfriends.
• Discuss the consequences of risk-taking behaviors, drugs and alcohol. While you're at it, start a conversation about eating disorders, which are especially prevalent among college-aged women.
• Talk to your child if you observe changes in emotions, behaviors or social activities. These may be signs of a serious mental health problem.
• Remind your teen, weekly--or even more often, if necessary--that help is available if he/she feels stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or sad.

Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D.
President, The Child Study Center Foundation, Inc.
Director, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research
http://cscfound.org

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®)–a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year–and by meeting published program entry/participation requirements.

Program Recognition

Of the 1.5 million entrants, some 50,000 with the highest PSAT/NMSQT® Selection Index scores (critical reading + mathematics + writing skills scores) qualify for recognition in the National Merit® Scholarship Program.

Winner Selection

All winners of Merit Scholarship® awards (Merit Scholar® designees) are chosen from the Finalist group, based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments–without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. A variety of information is available for NMSC selectors to evaluate–the Finalist's academic record, information about the school's curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, school official's written recommendation, information about the student's activities and leadership, and the Finalist's own essay

The 6 Washoe County Merit Scholar recipients were chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists nationwide in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The local students to receive a one-time $2,500 National Merit scholarship include:

• Michael A. Ceragioli of Incline High School, who plans to attend Pomona College in California and likely will study law. His $2,500 award is supported by National Merit Scholarship Corporation's own funds.
• Luke D. Arnone of Galena High School, who wants to pursue engineering and will start his career at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. His $2,500 scholarship is being underwritten by R.R. Donnelley Foundation.
• Benjamin R. Chen of McQueen High School, who likely will study mechanical engineering. His scholarship was provided by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.'s own funds.
• Simin Jiang of Reno High School, who will attend the University of Nevada, Reno and study biochemistry. Her scholarship also was underwritten by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

Two students received college-sponsored National Merit Scholarships, which fetch between $500 and $2,000 (renewable annually):

• Incline's Sean McClelland, who plans to study economics at the University of Chicago.
• Hanne Jensen, who received her scholarship from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash.

Source: National Merit Scholarship Corp.

Hyams on life: Incline teacher receives national nod for classroom achievements

How did a California-born surfer and part-time ski instructor rise to become one of the foremost civic educators in all of the United States of America? There is a one-word answer: passion.

Milt Hyams, teacher of American government at Incline High School, recently received the 2010 American Civic Education Teacher Award as recognition for his exemplary work in preparing young people to become informed and engaged citizens.

Hyams has gained distinction within the Incline Village community for consistently leading high school students to the national We The People Competition — quite a feat when one factors in the small size of IHS compared to the other schools that make it to the national finals.

The award means Hyams has begun to gain distinction outside the Incline Village community. In recognition of his achievements, the Bonanza recently sat down with Hyams and asked him a broad range of questions dealing with his professional and personal accomplishments as well as some of the more pressing contemporary political issues.

North Lake Tahoe Bonanza: How long have you been teaching American government at Incline High School?

Milt Hyams: 10 years.

NLTB: What did you do before that?

MH: I was a teacher at Reed High School for three years. Before that I was involved in the ski industry as an instructor at Northstar Ski Resort and Alpine Meadows. After that, I was involved in training other instructors at ski schools.

NLTB: Why did you decide to become an educator?

MH: It's actually pretty complicated. Part of it is that my family always valued education and public service. So, the two of them merged in my mind. The second is a little more practical. I started coaching baseball as a young man. I grew up playing the sport and played briefly in college. I liked coaching. I liked interacting with people. I like the one-on-one individual time with people and that opportunity to pursue a common interest. The challenge of connecting with a learner has always been appealing.

Also, I grew up during the height of the Cold War. I was in college when the Cold War ended. I remember thinking I could've learned more about it in high school.

Also, at college I observed really good teaching. The history teachers at University of California Davis were masters of their craft. I would observe them and say, “I can do that.” Teaching was always important to me. In college, I would purposely sign up for 25 credits and after the first day I would drop the classes which had teachers that seemed ineffective.

NLTB: Was there one eureka moment when you knew you would become a teacher?

MH: There was a moment in a Political Science class at UC Davis. The Berlin Wall came down while I was in that class and the professor came running into the room saying the world would forever change from that day forward. That enthusiasm, that ability to harness that moment was important in allowing me to recognize the power of teaching — the power of connecting students to the material.

NLTB: What about American government interests you? Why do you feel it is necessary for young high school students to learn about the constitution, congress and public policy?

MH: American Government is the great experiment. It's certainly not perfect. It is a work in progress and a challenge for all its citizens to live up to the ideals set forth by the founding fathers. Perhaps it seems idealistic to believe that, but I believe the interaction between citizens and government, the interaction between citizens and each other is critical to the maintenance of those ideals. American citizens are not subjects. It's important to recognize that. The story of the American government is the story of people who refused to see themselves as subjects.

I view government class as citizen training. The founding documents and institutions together create the framework and application of what governs our live — public policy.

NLTB: In an age that features sophisticated lobbying mechanisms and large corporations that contribute significant dollars to politicians, can an informed and engaged “ordinary citizen” still make a difference in modern American democracy?

MH: I think the power of communication technology has potential to even the playing field if used properly. There is evidence in society. Two separate people's movement — the gay rights movement and the tea party movement — relied on information technology. In each of those movements, corporation impact is limited.

NLTB: What are the most important components of being an engaged and informed citizen?

MH: A habit of hunger for information combined with an ability to navigate the bombardment of information and remain balanced and reasonable in judgment.

NLTB: What are the most important components of being an engaged and informed citizen?

MH: Enthusiasm, compassion and flexibility.

NLTB: How does the “We The People” competition supplement and enhance classroom lessons?

MH: It creates a classroom and community of learners who share a common goal. In effect, what happens is that students become invested in each other's education far beyond any other group project. Part of the magic of We The People is that students realize they are there brothers' and sisters' keepers. Success is based on collaborative knowledge and effort. Also, it forces students to use reasoned arguments and support with evidence.

NLTB: What does this award mean to you both professionally and personally?

MH: I am one of 3 million public school teachers. It's important to recognize teachers who are committed to the intellectual and personal growth of young people. A lot of teachers give it up every day as do a lot of civic educators. I am humbled by the award, but it is by no means a culmination of my career. It is an acknowledgment that I am on the right track.

NLTB: Would you consider running for public office?

MH: The amount of sacrifice of people that run for public office is extraordinary. I never considered it until I became a parent (Hyams is the father of two young children), but I don't envision running anytime soon.

After a year off, the annual Senior All-Star basketball game is returning this year.

The event for seniors from around Northern Nevada, which in the past has been played in Fallon, will take place on Tuesday, May 25, at Bishop Manogue High School, 110 Bishop Manogue Drive, Reno.  (775) 336-6000.

The girls game will begin at 6 p.m. and the boys will tip off at 7:45p.m.  Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students.

Here are the rosters:

GIRLS

• Blue All-Stars
  • Stephanie Rovetti, Reno
  • Stevi Cooper, Reno
  • Sarah Finlay, Reno
  • Elizabth Messick, Reno
  • Chakala Carthan, Hug
  • Krystal Thompson, Hug
  • Kim Krtinich, Manogue
  • Alex Luckadoo, Manogue
  • Katie Stevens, Truckee
  • Isabel Concha-Foley, Whittell
  • Mary Suing, Spring Creek
  • Nejae, Douglas
  • Coach: Shane Foster, Reno
• White All-Stars
  • Danielle Peacon, Reed
  • Honor Knudson, Reed
  • Renese Jackson, Reed
  • Shakia Walker, North Valleys
  • Lelani Young, Reed
  • Ari James, Spanish Springs
  • Sara Parsons, Fallon
  • Michelle Montes, Pershing Co.
  • Haley Jensen, Galena
  • Gigi Glogovac, Virginia City
  • Ariella Ruybal, Dayton
  • Gina Bianchi, Carson
  • Yvonne Hollick, Carson
  • Coach: Sara Schopper, Reed

BOYS

• White All-Stars
  • Tre Johnson, Hug
  • Isi Lotulelei, Hug
  • Eddie Ortiz, Hug
  • Bobby Hunter, Manogue
  • Pat John, Manogue
  • Steve Carlson, Manogue
  • Sutter Childs, Manogue
  • Colton Sims, Wooster
  • Jake Johnson, Fallon
  • Tyler Hubbard, Fallon
  • Kyle May, McQueen
  • Greg Cooper, McQueen
  • David Morrell, Spring Creek
  • Jay CLark, Coleville
  • Coach: John Franklin, McQueen
• Blue All-Stars
  • Scott Challis, Reno
  • Trevor English, Reno
  • Josh Dykstra, Incline
  • Aaron Short, North Valleys
  • Taylor Yancey, Reed
  • Mike Powell, Reed
  • Angel Guillen, Sparks
  • Alex Hansen, Galena
  • Thomas Perkins, Spanish Springs
  • Pat Smith, Carson
  • Rucky Braun, South Tahoe
  • David Eastman, Lowry
  • Kyle Raymond, Spanish Springs
  • Coach: Kyle Schellin, Reno

Incline High School will be on a Minimum Day Schedule on Thursday, June 3 (periods 1, 2, 3) for the purpose of conducting Arena scheduling for the 2010-11 school year.

School will start at the regular time of 7:48am and students will be released at 11:40am.

Arena scheduling starts in the BIG GYM at 12:15pm.  Lunch will be served and the buses will be departing the school at 11:45am and again at 2:05pm.

The Senior Class of 2010 will be dismissed for the day at 11:40am.

Arena Scheduling

Tuesday, June 3, 2010 - ONE DAY ONLY

• 12:15pm - All Gold List Students (Students on the Gold List are those with a cumulative GPA of 3.33 or higher.  List of names will be posted in the front office prior to the scheduling)
• 12:30pm - Incoming Seniors
• 1:00pm - All incoming Juniors
  
• 1:30pm - All incoming Sophomores

2010 NIAA State Track Championships - 5/21/2010 to 5/22/2010        

                   Presented by the Review-Journal & Farmers                 

                        Damonte Ranch HS, Reno, Nevada                       

Results                                  

Women - 2A - Team Rankings - 18 Events Scored
===============================================================================
    1) Whittell                   115        2) Pershing County            96 

    3) Incline                     87        4) Battle Mountain            83 

    5) Silver Stage                74        6) White Pine                 67 

    7) The Meadows                 62        8) Laughlin                   37 

    9) Lincoln County              24       10) Calvary Chapel             21 

   11) North Tahoe                 17       12) West Wendover               7


 Men - 2A - Team Rankings - 18 Events Scored
===============================================================================
    1) Rite of Passage            151        2) Whittell                  106 

    3) White Pine                  94        4) Incline                    75 

    5) Calvary Chapel              57        6) Silver Stage               49 

    7) Lincoln County              36        8) West Wendover              28 

    8) Laughlin                    28       10) North Tahoe                23 

   10) Pershing County             23       12) Battle Mountain            15 

   12) The Meadows                 15                                          

Event 73  Boys 100 Meter Dash 2A
============================================================================
  State Meet: # 11.11  2001        Marty Harris, Independence                

     Stadium: $ 10.61  2008        Stephen Nixon, Cimarron-Memorial          

    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Wind Points
============================================================================
Finals

  1 Hardison, Kasey            9 Rite of Pass             12.24  -7.1  10 

  2 Morris, Denzel            12 Calvary Chap             12.40  -7.1   8 

  3 Avampato, James            9 Rite of Pass             12.42  -7.1   6 

  4 Williams, Devontay        10 Rite of Pass             12.52  -7.1   5 

  5 Tracy, Nic                12 White Pine               12.56  -7.1   4 

  6 Bostock, Corey            10 West Wendover            12.63  -7.1   3 

  7 Hinton, Nigel             10 Rite of Pass             12.67  -7.1   2 

  8 Campbell, Zak             12 Lincoln Coun             13.37  -7.1   1 

Event 74  Boys 200 Meter Dash 2A
============================================================================
  State Meet: # 22.21  5/16/2008   Cameron Thomas, Independence              

     Stadium: $ 21.10  2008        Garic Wharton, Valley                     

    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Wind Points
============================================================================
  1 Hardison, Kasey            9 Rite of Pass             23.00   0.2  10 

  2 Bradshaw, Jacob           12 White Pine               23.33   0.2   8 

  3 Morris, Denzel            12 Calvary Chap             23.41   0.2   6 

  4 Elder, Morland             9 Rite of Pass             23.55   0.2   5 

  5 Williams, Devontay        10 Rite of Pass             23.69   0.2   4 

  6 Hinton, Nigel             10 Rite of Pass             23.98   0.2   3 

  7 Campbell, Zak             12 Lincoln Coun             24.91   0.2   2 

  8 Moreno, Cody              11 Calvary Chap             24.93   0.2   1 

Event 75  Boys 400 Meter Dash 2A
=======================================================================
  State Meet: # 49.56  5/18/2007   Zach Stoner, Battle Mountain              

     Stadium: $ 47.82  2008        Jordan Rincon, Spring Valley              

    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points
=======================================================================
  1 Robinson, John            11 Whittell                 50.95   10 

  2 Tracy, Nic                12 White Pine               53.49    8 

  3 Jones, Trevor             10 White Pine               54.58    6 

  4 Kellum, Roy               11 Rite of Pass             54.85    5 

  5 Avampato, James            9 Rite of Pass             55.13    4 

  6 Jacobo, Benji             09 Laughlin                 55.61    3 

  7 Lee, Ryan                 12 Incline                  56.88    2 

  8 Chatelle, Jesse           10 Calvary Chap             62.31    1 

Event 76  Boys 800 Meter Run 2A
=======================================================================
 State Meet: # 1:59.83  2000        Jack Morgan, The Meadows                

     Stadium: $ 1:50.78  2008        Joseph Abbott, Galena                   

    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points
=======================================================================
  1 Robinson, John            11 Whittell               2:06.17   10 

  2 VonLinsowe, Clint         12 Silver Stage           2:07.18    8 

  3 Sunseri, Mike             12 Incline                2:07.63    6 

  4 Heldt-Werle, Blake        11 Whittell               2:10.65    5 

  5 McGeshick, Cody           11 Laughlin               2:13.58    4 

  6 Romero, Brian             09 Laughlin               2:21.58    3 

  7 Maldonado, Nick           11 Laughlin               2:22.03    2 

  8 Johnson, Sam              12 White Pine             2:26.00    1 

Event 77  Boys 1600 Meter Run 2A
=======================================================================
 Defending Champion is Mike Sunseri (Incline)

  State Meet: # 4:28.47  2001        Jack Morgan, The Meadows                

     Stadium: $ 4:19.92  5/15/2010   Richard Shroy, Carson                   

    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points
=======================================================================
  1 Robinson, John            11 Whittell               4:38.06   10 

  2 Sunseri, Mike             12 Incline                4:44.52    8 

  3 VonLinsowe, Clint         12 Silver Stage           4:47.15    6 

  4 Baron, Eric               11 Incline                5:00.25    5 

  5 McGeshick, Cody           11 Laughlin               5:15.30    4 

  6 Sandoval, Ricardo         12 West Wendover          5:19.02    3 

  7 Lorico-Rappa, Marco       10 The Meadows            5:26.52    2 

  8 Maldonado, Nick           11 Laughlin               5:30.62    1 

Event 78  Boys 3200 Meter Run 2A
=======================================================================
 Defending Champion is Mike Sunseri (Incline)

  State Meet: # 9:48.6h  2001        Chris Clauson, Independence             

     Stadium: $ 9:29.87  2008        Tailhar Hasson, Centennial              

    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points
=======================================================================
  1 Sunseri, Mike             12 Incline               10:06.43   10 

  2 Clark, Carson             11 North Tahoe           10:36.78    8 

  3 Baron, Eric               11 Incline               10:45.14    6 

  4 Wilson, Spencer           10 Incline               11:09.88    5 

  5 McGeshick, Cody           11 Laughlin              11:26.51    4 

  6 Lorico-Rappa, Marco       10 The Meadows           11:34.98    3 

  7 Miller, William           12 Lincoln Coun          11:36.35    2 

  8 Sandoval, Ricardo         12 West Wendover         11:58.28    1 

Event 79  Boys 110 Meter Hurdles 2A
============================================================================
 Defending Champion is Kyler Felton (Whittell)

  State Meet: # 15.36  1998        Miarco McMillin, The Meadows              

     Stadium: $ 14.36  2008        Terrance Jones, Cimarron-Memorial         

    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Wind Points
============================================================================
  1 Morris, Denzel            12 Calvary Chap             16.22   1.6  10 

  2 Felton, Kyler             12 Whittell                 16.44   1.6   8 

  3 Griffith, Tyler           11 Silver Stage             17.20   1.6   6 

  4 Yates, Tunner             12 Whittell                 17.65   1.6   5 

  5 Humphrey, Desra           10 Rite of Pass             18.53   1.6   4 

  6 Allred, Dyllan            11 White Pine               18.92   1.6   3 

  7 Henze, Jacob              10 White Pine               19.12   1.6   2 

  8 Hardman, Garrett          10 West Wendover            19.92   1.6   1 

Event 80  Boys 300 Meter Hurdles 2A
=======================================================================
  State Meet: # 38.7h  1998        Miarco McMillin, The Meadows              

     Stadium: $ 38.54  2007        Riley Rowe, Hug                           

    Name                    Year School                  Finals  Points
=======================================================================
  1 Felton, Kyler             12 Whittell                 42.73   10 

  2 Jones, Trevor             10 White Pine               43.46    8 

  3 Welch, Lamon               9 Rite of Pass             43.76    6 

  4 Humphrey, Desra           10 Rite of Pass             44.07    5 

  5 Yates, Tunner             12 Whittell                 44.56    4 

  6 Hardman, Garrett          10 West Wendover            47.50    3 

  7 Balch, Tanner             11 Calvary Chap             48.78    2 

  8 Allred, Dyllan            11 White Pine               49.61    1 

Event 81  Boys 4x100 Meter Relay 2A
=======================================================================
 Defending Champion is Calvary Chapel HS

  State Meet: # 43.89  5/19/2007   Rite of Passage, Rite of Passage          

                       D Hill, E Shipman, J Weathersby, D Williams     

     Stadium: $ 41.44  2008        Hug, Hug                                  

                       D Williams, L Coleman, T Burton, D Mayers       

    School                                               Finals  Points
=======================================================================
  1 Rite of Passage                                       45.20   10 

     1) Williams, Devontay 10           2) Elder, Morland 9             

     3) Hinton, Nigel 10                4) Hardison, Kasey 9            

  2 Calvary Chapel                                        45.55    8 

     1) Corbitt, Brandon 12             2) Balch, Tanner 11             

     3) Moreno, Cody 11                 4) Morris, Denzel 12            

  3 Pershing County                                       46.17    6 

     1) Gibson, Cody 12                 2) Gonzalez, Daniel 12          

     3) Clingan, Chase 12               4) Paredes, Antonio 12          

  4 West Wendover                                         46.96    5 

     1) Douglas, Jordan 11              2) Chavez, Adan 11              

     3) Anzalone, Matt 11               4) Bostock, Corey 10            

  5 Incline                                               47.01    4 

     1) Lewis, Jacob 10                 2) Rodriguez, Erick 9           

     3) Calhoun, Ryan 10                4) Chavez, Danny 12             

  6 Whittell                                              48.26    3 

     1) Welch, Zach 10                  2) Felton, Jenner 10             

     3) Bronken, Garrett 9              4) Buyak, Austin 9              

  7 The Meadows                                           48.27    2 

     1) Rufty, Archie 12                2) Brown, Cameron 11            

     3) Batugal, Troy 10                4) Woodson, Johnnie 09          

 -- White Pine                                               DQ   3rd Exch violation

     1) Johnson, Jake 10                2) Watts, Tyler 11              

     3) Tracy, Alex 10                  4) Tracy, Nic 12                

Event 82  Boys 4x200 Meter Relay 2A
=======================================================================
 Defending Champion is Rite of Passage

  State Meet: # 1:31.91  5/18/2007   Rite of Passage, Rite of Passage        

                         D Hill, E Shipman, J Weathersby, D Williams     

     Stadium: $ 1:28.72  2008        Green Valley, Green Valley              

                         R Medina, M Crutcher, F Satterfield, L Mosley   

    School                                               Finals  Points
=======================================================================
  1 Rite of Passage                                     1:33.95   10 

     1) Williams, Devontay 10           2) Elder, Morland 9              

     3) Hinton, Nigel 10                4) Hardison, Kasey 9            

  2 Incline                                             1:36.87    8 

     1) Lewis, Jacob 10                 2) Lee, Ryan 12                 

     3) Calhoun, Ryan 10                4) Chavez, Danny 12             

  3 Pershing County                                     1:37.70    6 

     1) Gibson, Cody 12                 2) Riley, Seth 12               

     3) Clingan, Chase 12               4) Paredes, Antonio 12          

  4 Whittell                                            1:38.09    5 

     1) Yates, Tunner 12                2) Felton, Jenner 10            

     3) Bronken, Garrett 9              4) Buyak, Austin 9              

  5 White Pine                                          1:41.29    4 

     1) Tracy, Alex 10                  2) Johnson, Jake 10             

     3) Watts, Tyler 11                 4) Porter, Dalton 11            

  6 West Wendover                                       1:41.87    3 

     1) Douglas, Jordan 11              2) Malone, Julien 11            

     3) Soriano, Arturo 09              4) Bostock, Corey 10            

  7 The Meadows                                         1:45.07    2 

  &
Read more...

Residents in support of International Baccalaureate announced this week the forming of a nonprofit group to gather funds to helps its implementation in Incline's public schools.

According to a Tuesday press release from Incline resident Nancy Dey Porten, International Baccalaureate Incline Village (IBIV) is partnering with Washoe County School District to achieve the goal of “80 percent of Incline Village school students taking one or more AP or IB classes before graduation.”

The website — www.ibIncline.org — launched Tuesday.

“We've had to get our ducks in a row before we starting raising funds in earnest,” said Incline resident and IBIV founding member Tom Bruno. “When you approach individuals about donating to a cause, you need to demonstrate you have all the different components properly in place to be able to achieve your goals.”

Bruno continued: “We are serious about affording Incline students an all-around strong educational experience. Programs such as music, foreign language, the arts and athletics may need financial help from time to time, and my hope is that IBIV can provide that.”

Incline resident Nathan Hamilton is another member of IBIV.

“One of the main purposes of our IBIV website ... is to provide accurate and current information about IB in relations to our schools,” Hamilton said in the press release. “There has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about IB in the community, which we would like to clear up.”

Raising funds

The group is in the process of establishing itself as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Bruno said.

“We aren't in a position to reveal what we have raised to this point because we haven't fully pursued the fundraising portion,” Bruno said. “Once we've formed the nonprofit, have our website in order we can launch efforts to raise money.”

According to recent reports, WCSD Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez estimates the district will need an additional $150,000 for the upcoming year to cover the cost of two additional teacher allocations and application fees. The second year the district will need $210,000 for teacher allocations and fees associated with curriculum implementation.

Gary Lee announced during the Feb. 4 WCSD community seminar that residents had raised $75,000 at that point.

The first step in healing broken relationships — and the hardest step — is admitting there is a fixable problem. The Washoe County School District took that first step this week by announcing it would slow down and attack the implementation of International Baccalaureate at Incline's schools the right way — by starting at the beginning and not, as has become a popular phrase in this community, putting the cart before the horse.

"We admit we originally had it backward,” Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez told us on Tuesday. “Frankly, the public was right. The district realized it needed to slow down.”

Somewhere between the summer and winter 2009, the school district dropped the ball by:

A. Keeping its staff (the teachers) aware of every step of the implementation process; and

B. Informing parents of changes and challenges to come. Accusations of transfer threats and an inability to listen to teacher concerns certainly did nothing to improve the district's image, or improve the critical relationship between parents and administrators.

Now that the biggest step is out of the way, we expect all sides to be equally accountable for communicating, meaning the district must prioritize communication, and for the parents and faculty to be actively involved in that work. The district already has promised to host many community forums similar to last week's — a good start indeed — and we hope this is a pattern to be repeated through every major change within the district.

We still feel IB is a prized catch for our school system, and, given time, will raise what really has become embarrassing graduation rates for Incline's schools — especially with Latino students. Given Nevada's pathetic standing in national education (yes, we are dead last), the fact we have an opportunity to change locally and become an example for the entire state should be embraced wholeheartedly. But success depends on communication done the right way, which now, after much consternation, is occurring.

Inspired by Janet Usinger's letter last week and by many conversations with parents, students, and teachers in our community, I would like to offer two additional insights about the proposed implementation of the International Baccalaureate in Incline Village.

These are based on 12 years of study and research in the area of transformative learning and change (masters and doctoral levels) and my experiences of guiding my two children through four different school systems (starting in Tokyo).

The first insight is that change is a universal, unavoidable given; all living systems including humans and our social systems are inherently evolving through increasing degrees of order, complexity, creativity and consciousness. This is most evident in the accelerating pace of technology change even as individuals and our social systems struggle to integrate and adapt (as the crises in financial and other sectors have vividly demonstrated).

As a key factor in any nations' ability to evolve gracefully lies in the education of the youth, we have ample evidence that US students are underperforming those in European and Asian countries. I believe Incline Village is very fortunate to have the opportunity to lead the shift to the next evolution of public education that is needed to keep up with the pace of world change. We are truly fortunate to have deep IB experience and support from our new Washoe County Superintendent and Deputy as well as experienced help from the IB program implementers and directors at Wooster High School.

My second insight regards the true intention of education: “to educate” comes from the word “to educe”; to elicit, evoke, bring forth from within. Education ideally inspires every student's passion for self-directed learning that continues to thrive throughout their lifetime.

Some parents in Incline are concerned that their children won't be a candidate for the IB diploma and therefore won't benefit from it or may even be hurt by its' implementation. Firstly, with a full implementation from K to 12 as proposed by the County, all children will experience the inherent benefits of the excellent IB curriculum program and not just those who pursue the various subject certificates (similar to Advanced Placement) or two year diploma. Secondly, schools that adopt the IB program find that more children, regardless of heritage, become inspired to learn and want to pursue the higher level courses than was formerly the case.

To achieve this shift toward true education, IB teachers play a more engaged role in individualized student support to nurture their inherent curiosity and inner passion.

While some Incline teachers have concerns about the changes required by the IB program, I hope they will give IB a chance so they can experience the highest joy in the teaching profession: helping to turn on and nurture every student's innate capacity to explore and positively impact their world – and ours.

Mary Alber is a six-year resident of Incline Village with a fifth and seventh grader at Lake Tahoe School.

Sometimes I don't understand our community at all — other times I think I get a glimmer or understanding, but mostly it's a mystery to me.

It seems like we are willing to fight about anything based solely on our opinions, the opinions don't need to be informed by any facts and we don't feel very much need to listen to each other. Granted it's hard to listen when the communication is like this one: “Why don't you post-constitution Progressives go find your own country and quit wrecking ours?”

Apparently I'm something called a post-constitution (I assume this means post-Constitution rather than someone with the constitution of a post, but I'm not sure) Progressive. OK. I don't understand post-Constitution — we're all post-Constitution. That document was adopted in 1789, so anyone who was pre-Constitution would be 221 years old. Progressive? Why do people think I'll be insulted by being called something (along with Liberal, leftist, etc.) that I've said I'm proud to be. And what is the name-caller? Regressive?

Finally, why should I go find my own country, and who said this one was yours? I was born here, my parents immigrated here and I honestly believe that this is my country as much as it is “yours.” Actually, the Constitution kind of guarantees that, doesn't it?

Or the person who picked up on one small piece of personal disclosure in a column and decided that “because your Dad lost his business due to ‘change' you think workforce housing will solve the economic woes of main street???” which is nothing even related to what I said.

Case in point: the IB program. I have said repeatedly that, while I'm kind of naturally inclined to support it, I have serious questions and think a rational, fact-based dialogue is needed. Writers (mostly anonymous) online have attacked me for favoring IB (what part of “have serious questions” is not clear to you?). Just for fun, how about trying listening?

The Washoe County School District is on record favoring IB even though they won't fund it. In listening to both sides of the debate, a couple of things have become clear to me. First, very little of the debate is fact-based. Either or both sides may have facts to bolster their argument (note: “IT'S A U.N. PLOT!!!” is not a fact — it's an opinion, same for “IT WILL ATTRACT LOTS OF STUDENTS!!!”), neither brings them to bear in what dialogue there has been. Second, no one is listening to anyone who is not on their side. Third, a genuine dialogue, including people listening to each other, is desperately needed.

As I mentioned in a previous column and as was announced in the paper last week, the Bonanza has proposed to sponsor a forum for that dialogue. The ground rules of the forum will be that all presentations by panelists must be based on citable facts and that audience questions will be screened to ensure that they are requests for information, not arguments for a position. The original date for the forum, Feb. 9, is now in question due to conflicts with the elementary school's science fair, but if we can get the panelists, it will happen sooner rather than later.

I guess the question is what do both sides want? Do they want to defeat the other side or to inform the community? The way it looks now is that we are going to have IB in any case — the school district has approved it and the money has been raised or is close to being raised. So as a community, do we want this to be one more bone of contention dividing us or do we want to really look at what it could do and what it is that professional educators find so valuable in it?

Of course, we can all decide that we know better than the experts in any case and don't have to listen to them — after all, we pay them to educate our children — that means we're smarter than they are, right? After all, isn't the golden rule “he who has the gold, rules?”

Let's try to have an informative, civil dialogue. Whaddaya say?

Ed Gurowitz has a doctorate in psychology and is a management consultant. He has lived in Incline Village since 1995 and is active in the Democratic Party. His columns can be found at www.egurowitz.blogspot.com, and he is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and tahoeticker.com. He can be reached for comment at egurowitz@gurowitz.com.

Thursday, 2/4, from 6 to 8 p.m; Parasol Foundation, 948 Incline Way

Moderating the meeting will be Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez. Also speaking will be Serena Robb, our project coordinator and Daryl DiBitonto, the current IB coordinator at Wooster High School. All three Incline principals will also be present.

Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez, who will lead the meeting said, "We want to continue the discussion we have been having with the Incline Village community about the vital role the IB program can play in strengthening the already solid academic programs at these three schools. We want to have a dialog, answer questions, dispel some myths and discuss the implementation timeline we're following. I look forward to a great turnout."

As part of our desire to facilitate a good flow of information, additional seminars will be scheduled in the near future.

Reno, Nev., (January 29, 2010) - - To ensure the smooth implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program in the Incline Village schools, the Washoe County School District announced today that it has appointed Serena Robb as project manager. Robb, a veteran administrator in the WCSD, was the principal at Wooster High School in Reno when that school successfully launched its IB program. “The district wanted an individual with a deep commitment to the IB program and someone with the ‘feet-on-the-ground’ experience to see this through to a successful completion,” said Pedro Martinez, Deputy Superintendent. “I cannot think of anyone better to spearhead this effort, so we coaxed Serena out of retirement to head this important project. She will be our primary representative as we move forward,” Martinez added.

Robb’s career with the WCSD began in 1971. She has served as a speech therapist, counselor, assistant principal and principal at both Wooster High School and Damonte Ranch High School. She retired in 2005 after successfully opening Damonte Ranch. Each summer from 1986 to 1992, she administered a program at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York to acquaint high school students with life on a college campus.

“I know first-hand what it takes to move an IB program from concept to full implementation and I am more than pleased that the district has asked me to undertake this initiative. I’ve seen what the program can do for a school and for students. I’m excited to begin working with teachers, administrators, students, parents and the community to get everyone headed in the same direction,” Robb said. “I have already begun to talk to the staff at the three schools, and I’ll continue that over the next week or two,” she added.

Robb also noted that following those staff conversations, she’ll plan a series of community seminars later in February.

Martinez said, “The school district is committed to this effort and to making Incline Village schools one the best K-12 campuses in the nation. IB is one way to that, and I am confident we’ll be successful because already have such great teachers at all three schools and a solid Advanced Placement program at the high school. All of this helps lay the groundwork.”

###

About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 64,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready.

For more information visit: www.washoecountyschools.org. Follow us on Twitter at WCSDTweet.

Fifty-one students who completed the International Baccalaureate program at Wooster High School last spring received diplomas Tuesday during the 11th annual award ceremony at the school.

Students in Wooster's 2009 IB class scored an average of 1886 on SATs and an average 29 on ACTs and had a grade-point average of 3.718 on a scale of 4.

The program was started at Wooster in 1997 with eight students and has grown to about 350 this year, said Daryl DiBitonto, Wooster IB diploma coordinator since 2003.

"The IB program is recognized as a world-class college preparatory program," DiBitonto said. "Students are challenged to become independent inquirers through a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes the global nature of learning."

Graduates of Wooster's IB program have been admitted to some of the top universities in the country, including Brown, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Purdue, the University of Southern California, U.S. Naval Academy, Vassar and Yale.

For most graduates, the program makes the toughest schools easier.

"(The program) has made college so much easier than what I see my classmates handling," said Jillian Baker, 18, a freshman at the University of Nevada, Reno. "I know how to study and take notes, I can write a four-page paper in one night, and it's no big deal."

"And mainly just time management. I can balance academics and a social life."

Ben Degn, 19, an engineering student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz., said the program helped him with study habits.

"It has helped me keep on top of the homework load and classes and how to absorb and understand the new material," he said.

Juniors and seniors are in IB classes, with freshman and sophomores earmarked to take pre-IB courses, DiBitonto said. The older students said those new to the program might find the challenge overwhelming.

"There'll be times when you want to quit, but they should stick with it," Baker said. "You meet some really amazing people in the program, and you form lifelong friendships."

Anna Louie, 18, a student at Brown University in Rhode Island, said that students should expect to work hard but will learn valuable tools and information.

"People help each other, support each other, and I think that's the best thing a high school can be," Louie said.

Wooster is one of only three high schools in Nevada offering the IB diploma program, with Valley High in Las Vegas and Green Valley High in Henderson. There are 1,071 schools in the United States on all grade levels and 2,816 worldwide, according to IBO.org.

An all-grade IB program is the goal at the three Incline Village schools to improve the performance of a large Hispanic student population, especially in languages.

The Incline High School program starts in the fall using $40,000 from the high school's booster fund and $5,000 from the former Washoe County schools superintendent's discretionary funds.

Training for the Incline Village teachers began during the summer and will continue through the year, with other elements of the program to be added through 2012.

Additional Facts

What is the IB program?

• The International Baccalaureate program began in 1968 in Switzerland, where the not-for-profit foundation is based, as a way for diplomats to ensure their children had access to standardized education no matter where their parents were stationed.
• The IB program's rigorous coursework helps prepare student for success in college. Courses are designed to increase students' critical thinking skills, improve time management and develop writing skills.

How to apply:

Wooster High School allows students from all the Washoe County School District middle and high school students to apply for the International Baccalaureate. The enrollment begins in March.  To find out more, call Daryl DiBitonto at 775-321-5025.

For more information or if you have questions on the Incline High School IB program, please contact the school at 832-4260.

Superintendent Morrison Visits Incline Village

On September 28th, Washoe County School District Superintendent, Dr. Heath Morrison, spoke at the Chateau and repeated the District’s commitment to the successful implementation of International Baccalaureate in Incline Village. Dr. Morrison came to WCSD with extensive IB experience in his previous position in Montgomery County, MD, and is making a concerted effort to help the community and administrators transition to IB smoothly.

Fund Raising Continues

To date, $67,080 in cash has been raised, with an additional $69,500 committed towards annual contributions. In October, the community pulled together the over $20,000 needed to send teachers and administrators from all three Incline schools to IB training this fall and winter. When this school year’s training season wraps up in late January, we will have paid for 35 people to be IB trained!

This is quite an accomplishment, but our work is not yet over. We still need to find the funding to train a handful of people from Incline High School next summer and to cover the approximate $12,000 price tag associated with training every single educator at Incline Elementary next August, a welcomed requirement by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Please spread the word that now is the time to donate, large or small. We cannot proceed with the IB-IV dream without the community’s financial support. For those of you who have already contributed, thank you! We would not be this far in the process without your generosity.

Jeni Cross is currently working with District officials on the submittal of our first grant request to take place in January. We will keep you posted on our success or failure to secure any money through this avenue. If you happen to know of any grants for which we might qualify or would like to help look for grants, please contact Jeni Cross at jcross@washoe.k12.nv.us.

District Support

Despite the District’s inability to help us with training and application fees, we are pleased that they have supplied substitute teachers and help with grants, as well as paid for postage and required publications. Additionally, we were delighted to learn that Mr. Rick Harris located grant monies to send key people to the regional IB conference in San Diego. In attendance were Kathleen Watty, K-8 Principal; Sharon Kennedy, IMS Site Administrator; Kevin Taylor, Assistant Principal of Incline High; and Jeni Cross, IHS IB Coordinator Designate. CAWS, the California Association of World Schools, which also advocates and networks for and with the Nevada and Hawaii IB World Schools, hosts one-day conferences biannually. Coordinators, administrators and superintendents from around the region were present, and everyone who attended reported back that the networking they were able to do was highly valuable. Current Status of the School Authorizations

Incline High School submitted Application A, the first of two applications and their $8,500 fee, in October. At the end of January, we will have sent our teachers and Mr. Taylor to 17 workshops! We hope to accomplish the remaining five in summer 2010. However, in order to proceed to Application B, more funding must be acquired to show stability for the first three to five years. We will host the Site Visit next fall, followed by authorization to begin the DP in the fall of 2011. Incline Elementary and Middle Schools are, and will continue to be as teacher training progresses, in a trial Implementation Phase required by IB before filing the applications. By late January of 2010, we will have sent seven teachers and Ms. Watty to training for the Primary Years Programme, while nine teachers and Ms. Kennedy from IMS will have attended the Middle Years Programme conferences. When the compulsory three- to five-year funding is secured (approximately an additional $80,000 to $100,000), Application A at each of the schools will be submitted. Please note that application fees have gone up to $9,500 for schools starting the process in 2010.

December 2 Meeting for Diploma Programme

On Wednesday, December 2nd, Incline High School will host a meeting for parents of seventh through ninth grade students and their prospective IB Diploma Candidate children in the theatre at 5:30-6:30 p.m. During this meeting, school officials will discuss the specifics of the DP program, what it entails for all those involved, what our program may look like, and how to plan and prepare for becoming a candidate. This is an exciting time for both those living in Incline and even those living outside our area. Jeni Cross has been contacted by educators and students interested in our IB plans!

IB-IV in the News

Look for what should be a fantastic article about our three IB programmes in a future issue of Washoe Parent magazine. Jeni Cross is currently wrapping up the interview with the writer and believes that the piece will raise the awareness of Incline being the ONLY IB continuum in the area. We are the “Education Destination” at the Lake!

Once Again

Please spread the word that IB-IV needs everyone’s help to make our K-12 IB continuum a reality. Please keep us in mind for any 2009 charitable contributions as the year ends. Investments in Incline Village education can be sent to the following address and remember to mark “IB” in the memo area of your check. Remember that IB’s curriculum and methodology will be a benefit to ALL our students and has already begun to attract new students to Incline schools. In return, it is our hope that more homes will be sold and local businesses patronized. IB’s real benefit is to all of us.

Incline Schools Academic Excellence Foundation (ISAEF)/IB Program
P.O. Box 4153
Incline Village, NV 89450

We thank you for your interest in contributing towards this first phase of implementing IB in Incline’s schools.  All donations will be processed through the Incline Schools Academic Excellence Foundation (ISAEF), a non-profit 501(c)3, Federal Tax ID# 94-3203434.

Send in a Donation

Just print out the pledge card (attachment below) and mail it to us at:

Incline Schools Academic Excellence Foundation / IB Program
P.O. Box 4153
Incline Village, NV 89450

Contact Us

• Bob Kennedy 775-832-6989; robertkennedy@att.net
• Patrick Fleming 530-448-3814; patrickfleming21@gmail.com
• Byron Gehring 775-742-2412; byron@gbis.com

Sponsor a Teacher’s Training

Please help keep the implementation schedule on track.  Sponsor a teacher’s training!  The tax-deductible sponsorship is $1,500 for each teacher.  Details...

Attached is a PDF copy of the letter that was recently mailed to Superintendent Morrison. This letter of support was unanimously approved at ISAEF’s meeting of 9/15/09.

Come meet Washoe County's dynamic and energetic new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Heath Morrison.  He will discuss why the International Baccalaureate (IB) program makes sense in general and specifically for our community.  He intends to include an open Q & A session.  This meeting is for anyone interested in the long-term health of Incline Village/Crystal Bay, so please encourage your friends and neighbors to attend as well.  Childcare will be provided by ROTC volunteers from the high school.

Save the date!

The evening of Monday, September 28, 6:30 pm, WCSD Superintendent Heath Morrison and IB Director and Secondary Education Director, Rick Borba, will meet with the Incline Village/Crystal Bay community to discuss education and the district's support of the International Baccalaureate program in Incline. This community meeting will be at the Chateau.

IHS teacher and IB Facilitator Jeni Cross recently met IB consultant Lisa Nicholson, who helped set up the K-12 program at St. Helena, CA that was just completed. Nicholson is also a certified trainer at Granlibakken and half-time resident of Tahoe City.

On August 13 she met with members of Incline’s IB Focus Group, answering many questions regarding implementing IB in Incline Village. Nicholson is highly experienced at the MYP level of implementation and will be a valuable asset to our team.

Nicholson emphasized a sentiment that had emerged from previous Superintendent Dugan’s Task Force and became a goal of the subsequent IB Focus Group: Although an immediate goal is the implementation of IB, the larger community goal is to make Incline Village the “Education Destination for Lake Tahoe and Northern Nevada.” IB will be a cornerstone of this effort.

School board member Dan Carne also attended the meeting and stressed that IB is a district supported initiative, not a local program, and that it is the right model for the Incline community.

CYMBAL is sponsoring a new Incline Village Youth Music Show series.  It’s designed to give our local youth musicians a venue to perform live.  The first show is scheduled for Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 6:00pm.

We are looking for kids who want to perform and parents who want to help.  We were hoping you all could send out emails to help get the word out.  All information about the show is available online at www.youthmusicshow.com.  We are also looking for sponsors.

New Library Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-6pm; Friday-Saturday, 10am-4pm; Closed: Sunday & Monday

• Walls and display cases: Paintings by Norma Carder and bronze sculptures by June Brown
• Family Story Time:  Wednesdays, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. (There will be no story time on August 18 and August 25)
• Wednesday, August 4 - 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Lost in Paradise!  School aged children join our shipwreck as we look into the ocean floor from our island.  We will see and make a Whale, an Octopus, a Fish Mobile and finally a Fish Skeleton!
• Friday, August 6 - 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Keeping It Fun and Healthy. A get on your feet fun workshop emphasizing fun, healthy habits for summer and beyond.  All children will receive a jump rope and book.
• Wednesday, August 11 - 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Down By The Sea.  School aged beachcombers come to our beach – craft party for Monster fish, Crab, Fancy Fish, and an Octopus.
• Friday, August 13 and Saturday, August 14 - 10:00 – 3:30 p.m.  Library Coalition of Incline Village Book Sale.  Browse a room full of books, CDs, DVDs and videos at this two-day sale. Get bargains on bestsellers, kids’ books, out of print and one-of-a-kind items. Teachers and representatives from nonprofit organizations can fill a grocery bag of materials for free from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. All proceeds benefit libraries in Incline Village.

Contact:  Amy Levy

Incline Village Library
845 Alder Avenue
Incline Village, NV  89451
Phone: (775) 832-4130
alevy@washoecounty.us
Website: www.washoecountylibrary.us

Lake Tahoe Sharkfest Swim

The Lake Tahoe Sharkfest Swim is scheduled for Sunday, July 18, starting at 9 a.m. The 1.2-mile swim will start at the main beach in Incline Village and finish at the Burnt Cedar Beach. Cost is $85 for adults and $40 for juniors ages 17 and younger. This is a swim that people can't do on their own, as beach access is limited to property-owners and their guests. The event is limited to 500 participants. Race-day registration will be available at the athlete check-in from 7-8:30 a.m.

For more information:  http://www.envirosports.com/events/lake-tahoe-sharkfest-swim

Lake Tahoe Lacrosse Tournament

The Lake Tahoe Lacrosse Tournament returns to Incline Village the weekends of July 17 and 24. The U-19 tournament is on July 17-18 and the Open Division from July 23-25. The Tahoe Truckee Lacrosse Association (TTLA), which is sponsoring the event, is in need of volunteers. For more information contact Tournament Director Curt Wegener at 775-771-0670 or tahoelax@aol.com.

For more information:  http://highsierralax.org/aboutus.aspx

Highlander youth soccer camp

Tom Canino's youth soccer camp for players in first grade through eighth will begin Monday, July 19, at 5:30 p.m. at Incline High School's upper fields. To register, show up at the camp at 5 p.m. Cost for the camp, which runs from Monday through Thursday, is $70 and includes a soccer ball. The camp teaches skills and development. For more information call Tom Canino at 775-832-4260.

What does a school principal need to know in order to effectively lead and collaborate with teacher-leaders, staff and school community to develop a successful high-performing school?

Michael Schmoker's research focuses on two essential elements necessary for principals to know. He believes that principals must ensure there is a guaranteed and viable curriculum in the school that allows universal access for all students.

He also believes principals must keep a laser-like focus on improving classroom instruction through team-based, professional learning communities that believe teachers can meet the needs of all students.

Over the last few years, Washoe County School District moved forward to implement this research. We have worked with principals to implement professional learning communities and continuous improvement models in each of their schools by using the following questions and answers as a guide.

The board of trustees believes that this guide gives schools the framework needed for the successful academic and socio-emotional development of each student.

• What do we want students to learn? We expect all of our students to be taught with a rigorous standards-based curriculum that is aligned vertically and horizontally school and district-wide.
• How will students learn it? We expect each teacher to develop caring and supportive relationships with their students based upon high expectations for each student's success.

We expect each teacher to be culturally competent as they positively interact with each student and use differentiated, relevant and scaffolding instructional strategies so that all students will learn.

Professional development at each school site must be customized based upon the needs of the teachers, staff and student outcomes.

• How will we know students have learned it? We expect teachers to collaborate and develop the use of consistent formative and summative assessment practices in each subject during their professional learning community meetings. Teachers must be able to access real time data to determine individual student learning.
• What will we do when students do not learn it? We expect teachers to give students multiple opportunities to learn by providing timely academic and/or socio-emotional interventions.

As the Board of Trustees moves forward with our reform agenda, this essential framework is expected to be smoothly operating in each of our schools.  The role of school principals in the successful implementation of this research is immeasurable.

Barbara McLaury is vice president of the Washoe County School District board.

Recently graduated Incline High track standout Mike Sunseri captured the overall win in the annual I-CAN Run/Walk on July 10, as he completed the 10-kilometer run with a time of 33:02.9.

Chamika McCombs won the overall 5K race with a time of 23:58.7. Complete results can be found at www.i-canrun.org.

Bill Devine, who serves as one of the event organizers, said approximately 300 people participated between the three race divisions — 10K, 5K and kids race.

He hopes to gain more participation in future years, as the fundraiser for The Children's Cabinet at Incline Village and Incline High School Athletics needs more entrants to make a profit.

Results of the 5K and 10K

10K results
Female 12 to 15
Place Name Age Overall Place Time
1 Rachel Smiley 14 42 52:38.7
2 Ashley Vomund 15 53 57:40.0

Female 16 to 19
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Amy Lindsey 16 58 59:03.2
2 Kelsey Tokunaga 16 59 59:09.6
3 Jade Wright 16 60 59:53.6

Female 20 to 29
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Emily Peltier 27 33 50:42.4
2 Jacqueline Holland 20 37 51:28.2
3 Julie Sabor 29 54 57:57.9
4 M.J. Lanum 28 64 1:02:19.7

Female 30 to 39
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Nicci Hammerel 30 20 47:04.1
2 Katie Dornfeld 30 22 47:07.4
3 Nicole Alberti 31 24 47:19.4
4 Tricia Trevino 31 29 50:18.7
5 Vicki Marotti 36 34 51:06.5
6 Trisha Gillem 35 45 53:32.1
7 Keely ODonnell 37 49 55:00.5
8 Veronica Winquest 32 50 55:11.7
9 Sarah McMahan 37 57 58:49.3
10 Dawn Rye 39 61 1:01:01.1
11 Carla Raccapriore 36 63 1:02:09.0
12 Megan Janes 32 66 1:03:29.1
13 Jill Oberly 30 75 1:16:58.6

Female 40 to 49
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Kelly Sparks 41 27 49:21.3
2 Beatrice Song 48 39 51:54.8
3 Susan Wilson 40 47 53:34.5
4 Jennifer Kinch 45 56 58:08.4
5 Kelli Greaves 47 65 1:02:31.4
6 Melissa Webber 44 73 1:15:41.8

Female 50 to 59
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Kim Williams 59 30 50:21.5
2 Johanna Koch 52 44 53:15.3
3 Melinda Gpnzalez 50 68 1:05:33.7
4 Kathleen Hritz 54 79 1:21:27.4

Male 1 to 11
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Brent Wolf 9 76 1:19:16.2

Male 12 to 15
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Daniel Baron 15 11 44:06.4
2 Evan Vomund 14 18 46:36.4
3 Ryan Eppolito 12 55 58:02.8

Male 16 to 19
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Mike Sunseri 18 1 33:02.9
2 Eric Baron 17 3 37:26.6
3 Nicky Lindley 16 4 38:24.0
4 Aaron Aguirre-Garcia 16 35 51:19.4
5 Dzuon Aeriir 16 36 51:21.1

Male 20 to 29
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Jonathan Shoop 23 2 37:04.3
2 Robert McClendon 29 5 38:26.9
3 Aaron Vogel 29 38 51:49.4
4 Mike Kissell 29 41 52:06.5
5 Sean Powers 23 52 56:10.5

Male 30 to 39
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Corey Lanum 32 6 39:35.0
2 Nick Langmesser 30 8 42:08.7
3 Michael Wyreman 32 13 44:32.7
4 Jonathan Cox 30 16 45:15.4
5 Aaron Evans 30 19 47:01.7
6 Matt Dornfeld 35 23 47:07.5
7 Kevin Salmon 37 31 50:24.9
8 John Gillem 37 46 53:32.2

Male 40 to 49
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Jeffrey Alice Hartman 43 7 41:26.1
2 Jim Kaplan 41 17 46:27.0
3 Brandon Whitmer 49 21 47:06.8
4 Roberto Ramos 43 26 48:47.8
5 Rodney Grebe 44 28 49:39.2
6 David Strine 43 40 51:59.6
7 Mike Brown 41 48 54:25.2
8 Daniel Reeves 46 51 55:55.9
9 Michael Pantazis 46 71 1:13:56.1
10 Christopher Crozier 42 78 1:19:21.3

Male 50 to 59
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 John Pang 53 9 42:16.1
2 David Simon 53 10 42:25.1
3 Greg Flanders 53 12 44:08.9
4 John Lippert 54 14 44:43.6
5 Micha Corneil 50 15 45:10.6
6 Rich Hornstra 53 25 48:29.7
7 Tony Jimenez 58 32 50:25.1
8 Villiam Naviiaux 50 67 1:04:21.2
9 Andrew Wolf 50 77 1:19:16.6
10 Al Priester 58 80 1:22:38.6

Male 60 to 69
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Mike Thorson 67 43 52:44.0
2 Bob Williams 69 62 1:01:53.7
3 Paul Franklin 65 69 1:07:37.5
4 Christopher McLain 66 70 1:08:02.0

Male 70 to 79
Place Name Age Overall Time
1 Jan Stevens 75 72 1:14:11.4
2 Bob Sawyer 75 74 1:16:01.8

Students, teachers and parents will learn two new words before coming to school this year: Infinite Campus. WCSD is launching the new student information system, Infinite Campus at all 94 schools and 8 charter schools beginning in July. Infinite Campus is accessed through the Internet and will be used district-wide to track all student information including attendance, test scores, grades and demographic data. The parent portal Edline was replaced by the Infinite Campus parent portal and will be available to all grade levels.

The district previously used the student information system, SASI since 1999. Pearson Digital Learning, the company that owns SASI, issued an "end of life" statement for the product in June of 2008, and discontinued support for the software on June 30, 2010.

Superintendent Heath Morrison is looking forward to seeing the benefits of this system including leading to increased student achievement, efficiency and transparency for the district. "Infinite Campus is an outstanding vehicle for parent involvement, and will be an important tool in our reform initiative and strategic plan. The system will specifically provide greater access for parents, students and educators which is imperative to increasing the graduation rate."

The replacement of Infinite Campus did not impact the general fund, as it was funded by the 2002 Rollover Bond. Chief Accountability Officer Paul LaMarca says with the existing student information system no longer being supported, the silver lining associated with the turn of events was the ability to implement a better product for supporting student achievement and the school district's reform agenda. "After an extensive selection process which included community input and a committee made up of classified, certified and administrative employees, Infinite Campus was the clear choice for WCSD. LaMarca continued, "We are excited to launch this student information system for the 2010-11 school year. It provides the most cost effective option and excellent service for our students, parents and staff."

The project has a $2 million budget and was part of the approved 2009 Capital Project Allocation Plan. It was approved by the Oversight Panel on June 18, 2009 and by the Board of Trustees on June 23, 2009.

Infinite Campus integrates the student information system, teacher grade book, and the parent portal into one system, reducing the paperwork and duplicate entry of data that the old system (SASI) required. It not only saves time for teachers, but also allows the school office and parents to see immediate information from the classroom. Infinite Campus will provide 24-hour availability to student information anywhere there is Internet access. The parent portal will open for middle and high schools in mid-September, and at the elementary level in early November. This is the first parent portal that will be available to WCSD elementary students and parents.

The district's Information Technology (IT) Department worked extensively training teachers and staff over the past several months to gear up for the switch. The Implementation Team has developed 'SWAT' teams to give on-site support during the first day of school, to answer questions and make sure every teacher can log-in and take attendance.

The CEO and Founder of Infinite Campus, Charlie Kratsch says the cooperative efforts between their company and the district was top notch. "Washoe County School District is the fourth largest district that we've implemented. The team was forward thinking and well prepared, culminating in a very successful go-live." Infinite Campus was the only student information system to be awarded the highest rating (strong positive) by the Gartner Marketscope Report for 2009.

During a demonstration of Infinite Campus at an informational fair this spring at North Valley's High School for students and parents, one high school student summarized the benefits of the new system by saying, "Infinite Campus rocks. I can see everything I need to do, when I need to do it, and all of my grades are in one place."

An Infinite Campus instructional video is available for parents and students online at the Infinite Campus button located on the WCSD website at www.washoe.k12.nv.us.

About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 63,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready. For more information visit: www.washoecountyschools.org. Follow us on Twitter at WCSDTweet.

Celebrate the grand opening of the Eriksson Education Center at the UC Davis Tahoe City Field Station on Saturday, July 10. 

Activities begin from 1 to 4 p.m. with Children's Environmental Science Day.  Treat your child to a fun and educational afternoon of environmental science.  More than 40 interactive science activities hosted by organizations around the region will be available for children ages 6 and up.  There will be information provided by Lake Tahoe research scientists, a live animal presentation with Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care and a living green seminar.  Free ice cream from Susie Scoops will be provided throughout the day.

Continue in the festivities from 4 to 6 p.m. with the North Lake Tahoe Chamber mixer and open house.  Complimentary food will be provided by Sawtooth Ridge Café. There will be a cash bar hosted by Incline Spirits and also live music with Dan Copeland.

The historical hatchery was built in the 1920s.  The building has recently been restored and is opening to the public for the first time since fish hatchery operations closed in 1956.

The center will be open on Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Volunteer docents will provide free tours of the historic fish hatchery and demonstration gardens.  Kids of all ages can participate in new scientific exhibits and interactive games.  Guests will learn about the historic hatchery and current research. Learn the answers to all your Lake Tahoe environmental and scientific questions.

The Eriksson Education Center is located just a half-mile from downtown Tahoe City at Highway 28 (North Tahoe Blvd) and Lake Forest Road. Due to limited parking, guests are encouraged to walk or ride bikes down the paved bike path and follow the “fish” to the event.  Free public transportation provided by the TART bus will also be available.

For more information, visit the Tahoe Environmental Research Center online at terc.ucdavis.edu. 
 

Nevada has been selected the as first state to take part in a project designed to improve the nation’s dismal college graduation rates, which threaten the country’s economic survival in a global economy.

“Educational Equity and Postsecondary Student Success,” a national project funded by the Ford Foundation, will focus on improving college completion rates particularly among minorities, low-income and first-generation students.

“We know that we have a population in Nevada that is increasingly both minority and low-income, and we have a number of initiatives ongoing right now to try to identify those students and figure out why they are not going college, getting through college and out into the work force,” Chancellor Dan Klaich, of the Nevada System of Higher Education, said.

Minorities, low-income students and students who would be the first in their families to go to college are most at-risk of not entering college after high school or failing to complete their degrees if they do enroll, Klaich said.

Focusing on those groups as part of the overall effort to raise graduation rates in Nevada is important for two reasons, he said.

“Number one, because from a moral standpoint, it’s the right thing to do. Every student has an innate ability to learn and we have an obligation to give every student a chance to learn,” he said.

“And if you don’t believe in doing the right thing, then look at it as a pocketbook issue. If students can’t get the education they need to enter the work force, they will wind up in the social system or the prisons, which is more expensive to our society in the long run than if we got them to lead productive lives,” Klaich said.

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a regional organization that coordinates efforts to improve higher education among 15 states, including Nevada, is working on the project in partnership with the University of Southern California’s Center for Urban Education.

The Center for Urban Education will use data from Nevada to find specific ways to increase college completion rates in the state.

Nevada was selected as the first state for the national project because it has all seven of its public post-secondary educational institutions under one administrative body. That allows researchers to look at issues affecting graduation rates from a system-wide perspective rather than from separate institutions, said Magdalena Martinez, the lead investigator on the project and the NSHE assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs and student services.

Martinez said the economic downturn has spurred interest in the important role of post-secondary education in the future of the nation, including President Barack Obama’s goal that the United States regain its status as the country with the best-educated population in the world by 2020 in order to compete in the global market.

“What the project hopes to do is look at student data over the course of six years to have a better understanding of what are the points of critical success, where are those points at which we are losing students, what are the interventions that will best facilitate student success and how do we align our policies so that student success increases,” she said.

Historically, low college completion rates have been attributed to a failure to prepare students academically for the more stringent requirements of college courses, Martinez said.

“The belief was that under-represented students don’t complete college because they are under-qualified, but research has shown us that even when students enter college academically prepared, a large number don’t complete college,” she said. “This project will look at why they don’t by looking at the critical milestones in their educational trajectory. By doing that, we might be better able to identify interventions that will help them be successful.”

The graduation rate at Nevada’s four-year institutions is less than 50 percent, and the state’s community colleges far worse, with graduation rates that ranged from 4 to 20 percent in 2008.

For minority students, graduation rates dipped even lower, dropping by an average of about 5 percent more at Nevada’s two universities and its one state college, and by an additional 2 percent at the four community colleges.

Many factors can contribute to lower graduation rates for students of color, said Lonnie Feemster, president of the Reno-Sparks branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“Usually it is not just one thing. There can be conscious or subconscious racial bias, like less inclusion in study circles, and sometimes the kids pull themselves down,” he said.

The lower graduation rates for American Indian students could stem in part from their almost “being wiped off the planet in the process of taking their country away from them,” Feemster said.

African Americans haven’t fared much better after generations of enslavement, he said.

“Even if we could eliminate racial bias — which we haven’t — we still will not achieve diversity without overcoming this disparity in graduation rates, so I do think it is a critical issue. If you have certain groups of the population not graduating from high school or college, you will not have the type of diversity that corporate America, or in our case, corporate Nevada, wants,” Feemster said. “Those groups are not going to be represented in upper management or leadership positions where they can provide diversity at all levels in our community and state.”

Perhaps a sign of the economic downturn, the number of low-income students enrolling in college in Nevada has dropped, from 25 percent in 1999 to 13 percent in 2008.

To reverse that trend, the Nevada Board of Regents has decided to increase the percentage of money set aside from tuition increases that will go to provide aid for low-income students.

Nevada 2008 Graduation Rates

Native American/Alaska, native Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, White

Community colleges: 7.5%, 8.5%, 4.7%, 9.9%, 9.9%
*U.S. average: 17.8, 24.2, 11.5, 15, 22.9

Four-year institutions: 22.2, 47.5, 35, 37.7, 45.2
* U.S. average: 34.9, 63.4, 38.4, 43.1, 56.2

Source: Nevada System of Higher Education
* Source: National Center for Education Statistics graduation rates are for 2007, the most recent data available

When students head back to the classroom for the 2010-11 school year, their schedules will look slightly different from previous years. Across the district, students will be released from school 45 minutes early every Wednesday while teachers receive training and professional development. Instead of students receiving 3-hours of time off once a month on various days at the elementary, middle, and high schools, students will now be released early every week on Wednesday. The total time spent out of the classroom for students will remain the same.

The objective is to streamline the staff development enabling teachers to better serve students, and improve the early release schedules for parents says Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez. "This will be an important time for teachers to improve their teaching skills and discuss how to help every child in the district be successful. This time will be used to help offset training time lost because of budget reductions and teacher furlough days." Martinez continued by saying the adjustment will allow parents to better plan after-school care, especially for families with students at more than one school.

Bus pickup schedules at the end of the day will continue to be staggered at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Pick-up times will be 45 minutes earlier on the early release days. The 45-minute weekly early release schedule was used in the Spanish Springs area for the 2009-10 school year. Teachers and parents in Spanish Springs were very supportive of the change and say it worked well.

Spanish Springs parent Maria Arias saw first-hand how the weekly 45-minute teacher development helped in the classroom. "My daughter was having a hard time transitioning to the first grade. The weekly training her teacher received helped her immediately in the classroom and that support continued throughout the rest of the school year."

Every WCSD parent should have received a letter about the changes at the end of last school year. In addition to the letter, a parent tip sheet will be sent home detailing after-school care options. A video is also available in English and Spanish with more details.

Martinez says the schools will continue to remind parents of the new schedule in their back to school information as well. "When your child is released early from school, our teachers receive training focused on the classroom, which in turn supports our mission for all WCSD students: Excellence in Education, Every Student, Every Day, to Graduation."

About Washoe County School District: The Washoe County School District includes the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, Incline Village, Gerlach, Empire and Wadsworth, Nevada. The District provides each of its 63,000 students with a superior education in a safe and challenging environment and is committed to graduate every child career and college ready. For more information visit: www.washoecountyschools.org. Follow us on Twitter at WCSDTweet.

The I-CAN Run/Walk, is approaching and now is the time to register for the 26th annual race. This community event always brings out both walkers and runners of all ages. Even dogs participate in this event.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 10, with open ceremonies at Aspen Grove. The race course will take a scenic tour of local neighborhoods and along Lakeshore Boulevard. The entire run/walk is on mostly flat area which is why it is so popular for all fitness levels.

The children's races begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by the 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. and then the 10K run. Prizes will be presented to the first-, second- and third-place male/female winners in the 5K -10K, as well as medals to the top three male and female runners in each age category. Ribbons for all kids and medals for the top three finishers in each age category.

Many families have participated in this as an annual family event through the years. I-CAN is the Incline Community Action Network. The organization started as a special fundraiser to support Nancy Reagan's “Just Say No” campaign by Bobbie Gang, Sandy Schmidt and Diane Buckman in 1984. The purpose was to keep their own children away from alcohol and provide safe parties for children.

At the beginning, I-CAN organization started with about 70 enthusiastic participants and was the only fundraiser for the “Safe and Sane” graduation parties along with a successful teen after-school activity center. The organization itself no longer exists, but the race continues and is still popular with locals. This year's event is a collaboration of The Children's Cabinet at Incline Village and the Incline High School athletic program with proceeds from the race to benefit both organizations.

Cost for the race is $35 adult pre-registration, $40 race-day registration and $10 for all participants through grade 12. Registration fee includes before race snacks and lunch, the 26th annual I-CAN Run/Walk T-shirt and the opportunity to support two local nonprofits. To register or for information go to www.i-canrun.org.

Just go I-CAN!

Jean Eick is community editor for the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza. She can be reached at jeick@tahoebonanza.com.

Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe

• 8125 Steelhead Ave., Kings Beach, CA 96143, (530) 546-4324
• www.bgcnlt.org

What makes a community click?

Having lived in Carnelian Bay since 1972, I have gained a pretty good idea of what keeps it all together at the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. Whether you are a full-time resident or second home owner (the majority of folks in the area), community is important. If the community is not vital and complete, your experience will not be as good as it could be.

Since 2000, the Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe (BGCNLT) has served the youth of the community. Now as a permanent resident you might say “My kids are gone and don't use the Club.” As a second home owner, you may never use the Club although the Club does get youth every year in the Summer Camp Program who are not residents. This is recognized as a very fun and special program for children.

The reality of the situation is that organizations like the BGCNLT contribute heavily to the well-being of the community. This in turn makes for a stronger more vibrant community for all to enjoy. With a nice mix of academic, social and athletic programs, the BGCNLT does a great job of preparing kids for the future. Take a look. The Club is next to the Kings Beach Elementary School on Steelhead Avenue in Kings Beach.

— John C. Hassenplug, Carnelian Bay

Fun ways you can support the BGCNLT!

• July 4: Pancake Breakfast, 8-10:30 a.m. Fun-filled breakfast benefiting the Boys & Girls Club and the North Tahoe Fire Protection District, North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach, adults $7, children 12 and under $3.
• July 13: An Evening of Golf, 5:30 p.m. A charity golf scramble at the Old Brockway Golf Course in Kings Beach benefiting the BGCNLT. Cost is $45 per person, $180 four-person team. For info or to sign up, call Ben Visnyei at 546-4324 or e-mail bvisnyei@bgcnlt.org.
• Aug. 29: Wine on the Water, 1-5 p.m. Food, wine and silent auction benefiting the BGCNLT. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, Nev., $65 in advance, $75 at the door.

First in an occasional series on the Washoe County School District's reform agenda and strategic plan.

The Washoe County School District has hired four area superintendents to replace a chief performance officer to oversee different clusters of the school district.

The change in organization is part of a strategic plan to improve student performance, especially to raise the graduation rate that has stagnated at about 58 percent the last few years.

Realigning leadership also became more urgent as the district faces a $37 million budget shortfall.

"One of the key things we focused on, in addition to cost obviously, was the supervision of schools and support to schools, and I think that's critical to the role these superintendents will be: to support the schools, to assist the schools to achieve results through accountability," Superintendent Heath Morrison said. "The whole concept was to give these superintendents massive responsibility, but a lot of authority to match those responsibilities."

Former senior directors Pati Falk, Lynn Rauh and Nancy Sanger and former Sparks High School principal Doug Parry were hired for the task, after being reviewed by a 14-member panel of employee association members, central office staff and community leaders.

The quartet had to hit the ground running, to fill and recast 29 principal jobs in recent weeks.

"It was like 'Welcome to the world of being an area superintendent. Now go fill these schools,'" Morrison said.

Their task now is to develop an improvement plan for the school clusters.

"Hiring principals was exciting," Rauh said. "Now, we have to dive in to meeting staff at these schools and finding out the kind of support they need."

Parry, who Morrison said has helped improve learning among students affected by poverty, mobility and language, will oversee Zone 1 that includes Hug and North Valley high schools and the middle and elementary schools that feed students to them. He also will be responsible for Gerlach K-12.

Falk has held a variety of posts in the district and will oversee Zone 2, including Sparks and Wooster high schools and their feeder campuses.

Both zones have a high concentration of Title 1 schools, which have a significant population of low-income students.

"The idea is to provide differentiated support for the schools that speaks to their challenges," Falk said.

Rauh will be responsible for Zone 3, including Reed, Reno and Spanish Springs high schools and their feeder campuses, also for magnet campus TMCC High School.

Sanger will oversee Zone 4, including McQueen, Galena, Incline and Damonte Ranch high schools and their feeder schools. The Academy for arts, Career and Technology also will be under her wing.

"We tried to look at their backgrounds, we tried to look at their specific areas of expertise," Morrison said. "We didn't go in and say, 'you're interviewing for this position'. It was about trying to match them where their expertise would reside best."

Although they have their individual responsibilities, they anticipate a collaborative process in developing improvement and have yet to form a complete vision to how they will accomplish it.

"We're really trying to answer that question ourselves, and we'll have to build a lot of understanding of what our schools require," Sanger said.

Superintendent Bios

Doug Parry: Area Superintendent, Zone 1

• Experience: In education since 1983, 13 years in Washoe County, serving as principal of Sparks High School, assistant principal and athletic director at Spanish Springs High School, assistant principal at Proctor Hug, physical education chair and head varsity football coach at Edward Reed High School.
• Education: Undergraduate, 1979-82, University of Utah; master's, University of Utah; and Doctorate, Walden University

Pati Falk: Area Superintendent, Zone 2

• Experience: In education since 1982, 15 years in Washoe County, serving as senior director, K-6 director of Regional Center for Teaching and Learning / co-director Northwest Regional Professional Development Program, principal, dean of students and teacher at Agnes Risley Elementary School.
• Education: Undergraduate, 1977-80, bachelor's, University of Colorado; master's, University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Lynn Rauh: Area Superintendent, Zone 3

• Experience: In education since 1984, 25 years in Washoe County, serving as district senior director, school Improvement and student achievement coordinator, Title 1, principal at Jesse Beck and Veterans Memorial elementary schools, dean of students at Sun Valley and Alice Smith elementary schools, and teacher at Peavine and Glenn Duncan elementary schools
• Education: Undergraduate, 1979-83, University of Nevada, Reno; master's, UNR

Nancy Sanger: Area Superintendent, Zone 4

• Experience: In education since 1974, 16 years in Washoe County, serving as district senior director, principal and assistant principal at Sparks High school, assistant principal, dean of students and teacher at Reed High School.
• Education: Undergraduate, 1970-73; master's, 1976-79, University of Memphis.

The Tahoe Environmental Research Center Summer 2010 newsletter is now available online at http://terc.ucdavis.edu/publications/TERC_Summer2010.pdf

Articles include:

    * Summer Research at the "Historic Hatchery"
    * Asian Clam Large-scale Management Project Update
    * Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) Grants
    * Featured Staff: Patricia Maloney, Forest Biologist
    * Making the Case for Informal Science Education
    * Upcoming Events:
          o Children's Environmental Science Day, July 10, 1 - 4 p.m.
          o Eriksson Education Center Grand Opening and Chamber Mixer, July 10, 4 - 6 p.m.
          o Docent Training, June 26 or 30, 1 - 4 p.m.
          o Garden Volunteers Needed, June 28, 30, July 1, 12 and August 12

We hope you will join us this summer for the celebration of the new Eriksson Education Center at our TERC Tahoe City Field Station, 2400 Lake Forest Road, Tahoe City, CA   96145, Phone: (530) 583-3279.  For more information, please contact us.
 
Best regards,
Heather
 
Heather Segale
Education and Outreach Coordinator
UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center
291 Country Club Drive, Suite 320
Incline Village, NV 89451
Phone: (775) 881-7562
Fax: (775) 832-1673
Email: hmsegale@ucdavis.edu
Website: http://terc.ucdavis.edu

Incline Public Library - July Happenings!

• Walls and display cases: paintings by Norma Carder and bronze sculptures by June Brown
• New Hours Starting July 12: Tuesday-Thursday, noon-6pm; Friday-Saturday, 10am-4pm; Closed: Sunday & Monday
• Family Story Time: Wednesdays, 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Through Saturday, August 1
  • Summer Reading Programs: “Make a Splash @ Your Library” and “Make Waves @ Your Library”. Children and teens may earn a free book when they participate in this reading incentive program. Special free events will be featured at Washoe County Library branches and children are welcome to participate at multiple libraries.
• Wednesday, July 7, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Tumbleweed Tex. Join us for cowboy music and stories designed to stimulate creativity and imagination. This is how Tex describes his show: “songs with real substance, songs with absolutely no substance, true stories and lore, outright lies and myths, some trick roping, an attempt at Spanish guitar playing, embarrassing audience participation and possible applause at the end.”
• Saturday, July 10, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Allen and Sherry Bohl Presentation and Book Signing. Allen Bohl, author of Back Porch Swing and Getting to Thanksgiving and Sherry Bohl, author of Mary's Lamb share their love of literature and reading in this program emphasizing reading’s positive impact on children’s education. Signed books will be available for purchase following the program.
• Saturday, July 24, 2:00 p.m. Duct Tape Beach Bags. Duct tape is a wondrous thing, with countless uses. Library staff member Turi Becker will help kids and teens construct a beach bag or other creation with duct tape. This unique project is part of Summer Reading Program 2010: “Make a Splash @ your library.”
• Saturday, July 31, 2:00 p.m. Summer Reading Program Ice Cream Social. Enjoy a sweet treat and a chance at winning a raffle prize at our party wrapping up this year’s Summer Reading Program.

Contact:  Amy Levy
Incline Village Library
845 Alder Avenue
Incline Village, NV  89451
Phone: (775) 832-4130
alevy@washoecounty.us
Website: www.washoecountylibrary.us

Hoops on the Hill (see attached flier)

• Who:     All interested 1st – 12th grade girls & boys
• What:    One-week skills & development camp
• When:    July 5 – July 9th, 2010
• Where:   Incline High School
• Cost:      $150 per player - - ALL proceeds to benefit I.H.S. Basketball.  
• Each player will receive a camp reversible jersey and a basketball.
• Day campers welcome

DETAILS:

• Camp Director: Dan Schreiber, Varsity Boys Head Basketball Coach, Incline High School
•  Co-Director: Tim Kelly, Varsity Boys Head Basketball Coach, Servite High School, Los Angeles, CA
•  Daily from 9:00am to 12:00pm 1st thru 7th  graders
•  12:30pm to 3:30pm 8th thru 12th graders          
•  Ball Handling, Passing & Shooting Drills Defensive Drills
•  Individual & Team Concepts Scrimmage & Tournament Play

CONTACT:

• Coach Dan Schreiber - - 832-4260 dschreiber@washoe.k12.nv.us
• Ron Wright - - 775 831-3132, 775 813-5583 or rwright@menath.com
• Coach Tim Kelly - - 714 404-8592, tkelly@servitehs.org

Highlander Soccer Camp (see attached flier)

• WHO: All boys and girls 1st through 8th grade
• WHAT: Four-day skills and development camp
• WHEN: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Mon - Thurs, July 19-22
• WHERE: Incline High School upper field (by the tennis courts)
• COST: $70, includes a soccer ball
• DIRECTOR: Tom Canino, Incline High School boys varsity coach
• CONTACT: Coach Tom at 832-4260 or tcanino@washoe.k12.nv.us
• All proceeds benefit  Incline High School boys and girls soccer teams